Beetles (Breeding)

Take control of your mealworm supply. Wormera's live darkling beetles are the ultimate investment for serious breeders and dedicated pet owners looking to establish a self-sustaining, continuous mealworm colony at home, saving you money and ensuring a fresh feeder supply year-round.

Each beetle is within one week of moulting, meaning they are just entering their egg-laying cycle and ready to hit the ground running. This gives your breeding setup an immediate head start over purchasing older beetles with shortened reproductive windows. Beetles are inspected for health and activity before packaging, so you receive only the strongest, most productive breeding stock available.

The male/female ratio is approximately 1:1, though not guaranteed. 100% born and raised in Canada.

Setting Up Your Beetle Colony
House beetles in a shallow, ventilated container with a 2–3cm (1") layer of our Optimal Worm Food & Bedding or wheat bran for substrate. As needed, add thin slices of carrot, potato or apple for moisture and avoid standing water entirely. Maintain a warm environment of 25–27°C (77–80°F) to encourage active egg-laying. Beetles typically live 3–5 months, and a single female can lay hundreds of eggs during her lifetime.

Introducing Beetles to an Existing Colony
Add beetles gradually to avoid overcrowding, and separate eggs by sifting substrate regularly to manage colony growth.

IMPORTANT: Live worm orders are only shipped on Mondays. Or Tuesdays after a long weekend. Please see our shipping policy for more information.