Scientifically Flour worm - is a kind of beetle larvae Tenebrio (Lat.).His family called Darkling.In Russian the name sounds rather prosaic beetle - beetle and larvae styled stone bramble.
What the "beast"?
these insects is difficult to call the inhabitants of a particular continent.They razvezeny worldwide food traders.Therefore beetle can be safely assigned to the status of cosmopolitans.Where they grow and develop "kids" of these beetles?The fact that they are known as "flour" already gives a good hint.Females selected as the "incubator" for white testicles mills and bakeries, warehouses with flour products.And you can find the larvae under feeders or nest in the chicken houses and dovecotes.Stone bramble are in the stage of development of the whole year.
During this time, they molt four times, happy regaling bran, bread, beans and flour.Do not disdain "children" beetle and animal food.It withered corpses of birds and mice, the remains of feathers that fall on the ground nesting birds.Subsequently, the larvae pupate without a cocoon, and in July and August turn into polutorasantimetrovyh brown, slightly shiny flat barbels.
greatest interest among people for various reasons, it is a flour worm.His appearance is unlikely to seem attractive simple townsfolk.However, entomologists describe them with great sympathy.The length of 2.5-3 cm, and some reach four.Color cylindrical trunk brownish-yellow.Eye there, but stone bramble - owners of three pairs of thoracic legs with claws.The body of the larvae end two hooks that look up, and the bottom are two small warts.This kind of movement is forcing mechanism.Interesting fact: Flour worm was already known in the first century BC.The companion of Pompey, scholar and lexicographer, stands, writer and poet Marcus Terentius Varro mentioned him as Tenebrion in his work, De re rustica - «About agriculture."He shared his knowledge of what is mealworms.
application of these creatures
stone bramble, like beetle, for many - just a pest.But avid fishermen and owners of birds and amphibians are aware of the appointment of the useful larvae.Reptiles, birds, amphibians, invertebrates with great pleasure eating them.Using larvae as a food, it must be remembered that this is a very high-calorie treats.For example, if you give a budgie more than five individuals in the day, the winged one can quickly gain excess weight, which results in conjunction with a sedentary obesity.
Another purpose of stone bramble - a bait or nozzle.Fishermen are guaranteed a good catch roach, chub, rudd and other non-predatory fish.Due to fairly rigid carapace does not fly larva, holding fast on any hook.Use it in the bottom and float fishing as well as floating snap.
Flour worm - goods increased demand for bird markets, pet stores and, of course, from the fishermen.You can buy it regularly, even do stocks.The larvae are kept for a long time, up to several weeks.The main thing - to observe some simple rules: temperature, good ventilation.But there is another win-win for those who use stone bramble permanently or wants to earn extra money.Culturing in the home.This process does not require large investments and the costs of physical and temporal.
divorce meal worms?
To begin to equip the place of settlement and reproduction.Depending on the amount of future production it may be special trays or large boxes having no slots and a bottom wall which is better upholster tin.The cover and the first and in the second case should be a grid with very small holes.The bottom is covered with bran, flour, sawdust, ground biscuit layer of 5-10 centimeters.Above you can put a piece of heavy paper or cardboard.
next step - the purchase of manufacturers, beetles, beetle.Pupae can use, but in this case, the first step of the process takes considerably more time.In prepared for cultivation design fit family.The number of animals depends on the desired result.Terms
breeding worms
Two months from the moment of laying eggs beetles appear mealworms.Rearing larvae requires several conditions:
- humidity - desired rate of not more than 50 per cent;
- temperature control - 26-28 degrees is optimal, but not lower than 20.
Feeding
Feed queen better grated carrots, potatoes, beets, other vegetables.New treats lay once in two days, mingling in the bran.In addition, as a protein food can be given pieces of raw or cooked fish and Daphnia.
Feed for certain animal species
Ready larvae can be used as feed for livestock, to sell through pet shops or poultry markets.You also need to leave a certain amount of stone bramble for future production.In a separate vessel with similar conditions are placed selected individuals who continue to pupate and grown to beetles.The process can begin anew.Beetles feed on fruits and vegetables, they should be fed only once or twice a day, it is desirable, of course, remove the remnants of the previous meal.
How to get rid of the pest?
Speaking of larvae and beetles, need to be aware of their harmfulness.They can destroy products, and contaminate their skins, which are shed at moulting, and excrement.Their attacks are most susceptible to feed mills, flour mills, poultry farms, grain warehouses, and so on. N.
At home, most often found in cereals and flour.But it is not so terrible, meal worms.How to get rid of it?Carefully close all containers which are endangered products.If pests have infested, it must be free-flowing product is sieved.That's all.
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conclusion Now you know who Flour worm, what he eats and how multiplies.We hope that this information will help you in the future, if you want to deal with his breeding.
