Young larvae are white and darken with age. Pupae are first white before turning yellow. Obtaining Mealworms Mealworms can be obtained from pet shops where they are used to feed birds, reptiles and animals. Also, live bait stores sometimes sell mealworms. They often are found in granaries, feed stores and poultry houses.
Cages Use a large, galvanized metal washtub, large bucket, crock or wooden box.
A suitable lid can be made by perforating small holes in a thin sheet of zinc cut to fit inside the box rim and resting the lid on a narrow wooden batten or strip all around. The cover is easily removed, allowing good ventilation. Some people use a fine- mesh screen cover. Cage Preparation Fill the box to within two inches of the top with wheat bran plus a small amount of dry brewer's yeast or graham flour and meat scraps. Alternating layers of chicken mash and burlap with about four layers of each may also be used.