Mealworm Beetles for Sale
These are adult mealworm beetles, the darkling beetle Tenebrio molitor. They are the breeding stage, sold as breeding stock rather than food. Buy them to start or boost a mealworm colony, so you can produce your own feeder larvae. Because the beetles are ready to breed, they let you skip the months it takes larvae to mature. Choose a count to match the size of your project.
Jumpstart Your Mealworm Colony
Starting a colony from larvae takes months, since the larvae must pupate and become beetles first. Adult beetles remove that wait, so you can have eggs and larvae quickly. A larger count seeds a bigger colony faster, while a small count is enough to get started.
Not a Feeder
Do not feed the beetles to your pets. Adult darkling beetles are bitter, so animals tend to refuse them. Instead, the mealworm larvae the colony produces are the feeder. Remember that those larvae are low in calcium, so dust them with TC Calcium Ultra Fine before feeding.
How to Breed Them
Keep the beetles warm at room temperature, not in the refrigerator, since they need warmth to reproduce. House them in a bran substrate, which is also their food, with a slice of vegetable for moisture. The beetles lay eggs in the bran, and those eggs hatch into mealworms that grow, pupate, and become more beetles. Over time, the colony sustains itself.
Best For
- Keepers who want to culture their own mealworms.
- Breeders who want eggs and larvae quickly.
- Anyone seeding a new or larger colony.
- Cutting the cost of buying larvae repeatedly.
Not Best For
- Feeding to pets, since the beetles are bitter and usually refused.
- Keepers who only want ready feeders, who should buy larvae instead.
- Anyone not set up to keep a warm colony with substrate.
Recommended Add-Ons
- Mealworm Bran as substrate and food for the colony.
- Mealworm Pupae as another way to jumpstart beetles.
- Large Mealworms as feeder larvae or more breeding stock.
- TC Calcium Ultra Fine to dust the larvae you produce.
- Live Mealworms to browse all sizes and stages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are mealworm beetles?
They are the adult stage of the mealworm, the darkling beetle Tenebrio molitor. They are sold as breeding stock to produce mealworms.
Can I feed the beetles to my pet?
No. The beetles are bitter and usually refused. Feed the mealworm larvae the colony produces instead, and dust those before feeding.
Why buy adult beetles?
They jumpstart a colony, so you get eggs and larvae quickly instead of waiting months for larvae to mature into breeders.
How do I breed them?
Keep them warm at room temperature in a bran substrate with a slice of vegetable for moisture. They lay eggs that hatch into mealworms.
How many should I get?
Choose 5 to 1,000. A larger count seeds a bigger colony faster, while a small count is enough to start.
Learn More About Mealworms
These sources cover the mealworm larvae your colony will produce and feed off.
- AJVR: Calcium and Phosphorus in Mealworms and Superworms. Peer-reviewed veterinary research on the calcium-to-phosphorus balance of mealworm larvae.
- ScienceDirect: Gut Loading (veterinary overview). A reference on why feeder insects need supplementation, which supports dusting the larvae you raise.
- ABVP: Feeder Insect Nutrition. A veterinary overview noting the inverse calcium-to-phosphorus ratio common to mealworms and most feeders.
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