What's up with the mealworm shortage?

18 years ago

So, what's up with the mealworm shortage? Even my local supplier is out, with a 4-6 week wait.

I can just see those bluebirds out there tapping their little toes, waiting...

I hope nobody teaches them how to tap on the windows.

BlueBars

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Comments (3)

donnalovesblue
18 years ago
BlueBars, Janie May (I think) addressed this shortage in another thread, so maybe she will chime in again to explain...seems so odd!!! Anyway, I order mine from Sunshine, and so far so good...I haven't been advised they have a shortage..KNOCK ON WOOD! Mine should last another 10 days, but if Sunshine begins to have a problem, my little one couple (and one or two from their first brood) won't be one bit happy!

Donna
bet_from_ct
18 years ago
I spoke with Grubco - something about crashing? It's nationwide. Some places are sending only to existing customers, some are not taking orders, some are only sending small orders, some only doing giant mealworms (which I don't use out of concern for hormones used to keep them from pupating.)

I hear they hope to have more in several weeks. In the meantime, might try suet crumbles or chopped raisins.

Here is a link that might be useful: suet recipes
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The plastic upright drawer unit can be purchased at KMart, Target or anywhere storage units are sold. The drawer sizes vary about 12w"x15d"x4 to 7"h, the total unit is about 4feet tall & has wheels & 6 drawers. You can drill small holes in the top drawer where the beetles live since the eggs are tiny and will fall through to the next drawer(otherwise the beetles will eat the eggs). A better way is to cut out the bottom of the drawer (leaving about a 1" margin) & tape down or staple plastic window screening over the opening. Place any beetles you have in this drawer. Make sure you have a small refrigerator (set at no lower than 40 degrees)to keep the mealworms from transforming into pupae, then beetles. The beetles will die after laying eggs. You can feed the dead beetles to wild birds, bluebirds, bluejays, cardinals, etc. The beetles don't fly so you can set them on ground in a feeding dish. There are several excellent websites on growing mealworms, especially in you tube
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janie_may
18 years ago
BlueBars, what I've been told is that once one major supplier has a problem, it is the 'trickle down" effect and then MOST suppliers have the problem. WHY???? I have no idea. I do not know this to be true but I think that "Nature's Way" was the first to have the problem and they are one of the largest suppliers. Most of the WBU's in Atlanta used them and my former rehabber, Casey, always used them. The wild bird stores that I go to here, "Wild Bird Centers" also use them but fortunately (for ME) one of those stores didn't like Nature's Way and found another small supplier somewhere in S. Ga. last year. So.....she is still getting meal worms while others are not and she ain't tellin' nobody who her supplier is! LOL!

When Casey called Nature's Way week before last she was told that it would be 6 weeks before they'd have a decent supply. The other Wild Bird Centers store that I visit was told the same thing (he uses Nature's Way). I can't tell you how happy I am to have 10,000 and I remind my blues, dees, titmice, song sparrows and BHNU every time I fill that dish that they are lucky, too!

It's times like this that I "almost" wish I was still farming! ALMOST!

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What's up with the mealworm shortage?

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donnalovesblue

bet_from_ct

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