Designing Your Mealworm Farm

Each set up will be unique depending on your personal preferences in production output, maintenance, space and costings and skill level. 

Click the below links below for the main design considerations to design the right mealworm farm that is right for you !!

photo of a commercial mealworm farm with hundreds of blue trays in shelving. The front rows are pulled out so you can see the mealworms.

1) Which Mealworm Species Do I Choose (Click Here!)

This is perhaps the most important question you need to answer. Most people assume that they should breed the yellow mealworm, however it may not be suited to warm temperate or tropical environments (without climate control). Getting this right may be the difference between inconsistent and frustrating breeding problems or consistent and productive growth rates.

A hand full of giant and yellow mealworms over two blue mealworm trays

2)  What Type of System do I Choose ?

There are 2 main systems to choose from. Both have advantages and disadvantages:

The Screen Breeding System:

Has less maintenance however may have lower production rates (Better for hobbyist or small scale).

The Filtering Breeding System:

Has higher maintenance however will have higher production rates (better for medium to large Scale)

photo of mealworm pupa on six raised platforms. Hundreds of pupa will emerge as beetles and fall off the platforms into the meal below

3) How Many Mealworms Can I Produce

How Many Mealworms can I Produce – Commercial

How Many Mealworms can I Produce- Small Scale (Hobbyist)

The main factors for productive output includes: climate, density, demographics, diet and hygiene. The combination of these factors along with the method you use will affect growth rates. In this section we discuss the different production rates you could expect given your setup.

close up photo of five blue trays side by side full of yellow mealworms with no substrate.