I give mealworms to wild lizards. I have kept them in the fridge for months when the lizards stop eating during the winter. We have a shortage here too(Australia) but it seems suspicious and I wonder if they are being described as possible human food in the face of all the movements to replace meat. Registering them as food products edible by human would make them very expensive and the big industries would be locking down the supply and possibly even killing off what they cant control. Whatever is happening shouldn't be. Meal worms are easily bred insects and should be available in massive numbers. I know I might be totally wrong but I dont think so

Absolutely!! You'll see little drifts of skins! That's very good news! I do not mist---too worried about mold. I have drawn boundaries regarding what I will and will not do to raise mealworms. I'm pretty overloaded as it is! Mine do fine with just veggies and cornmeal. At least I think they do! In a box that big, I usually put 4 little pieces of celery (or whatever) to supply each "quadrant." If they're that tiny, I don't know how far they can go to get food! Hope that helps, Ann

Thanks all, Billy and all his siblings are sure precious and adorable to us too. :) The nuggets are from Lowe's, and yes ALL our bluebirds do eat them, parents and fledglings alike. They favor the mealworms of course, but we are out of worms also now. Lately, our first-nest fledglings (Billy being the first of these) have been going to the nuggets even when there were worms in the next bowl. I think Missy and Mr.B have flapped them off the worm bowl often enuf, and they are somewhat hesitant to take the mealies that Mom & Dad reserve for the second brood. Kenn

Sorry to hear that Gibby. I find I can't produce enough mealworms to keep everyone fed. I'm working to build up my supply by saving bins to grow out into more beetles. Since I had to feed ten Bluebirds last winter, and it cost me a fortune to have to keep ordering them, I'm trying to raise a lot before winter. Plus right now I'm still feeding my resident Bluebird pair that are on their 3rd nesting, and also I'm feeding Carolina Wrens that have nested on my porch. I figure even if I get bucketloads of mealworms and the Bluebirds don't show up this winter, I can feed the mealworms to my Guinea Fowl, so nothing will go to waste.