Live Mealworms

Live Mealworms: 1,000, 5,000, or 10,000 count

Source the highest quality live mealworms for your retail store, pet breeding operation, research facility, or personal use. We prioritize the health and vitality of our mealworms.

• No growth hormones.
• No pheromones to suppress pupation.
• No chemical additives.
• Fed a balanced diet - wheat bran, leftover bread, potatoes
• Naturally rich in protein, fat, and chitin

Quick Facts

Medium mealworms 0.75" to 1" (in length) & 100-120 mg (in weight). 

Large mealworms 1 to 1.5" (in length) & 120+ mg (in weight).

Mealworms are shipped in a breathable cloth container. They are provided soft egg cartons to crawl and munch on while in transit.

Our mealworms are raised in a clean and controlled environment, ensuring they are healthy and free from pesticides or harmful chemicals. 

Our farm is located in Eugene, Oregon. 

Shipping

We ship on Monday through Thursday and prefer USPS Priority Mail, Hold for Pickup. If ordered before 11 am pacific, we will ship same day (M-Th) otherwise next shipping day. Live guarantee requires a post office hold. No wheat bran is shipped with the mealworms. They are shipped in a breathable cloth mesh bag and egg cartons. 

If you are willing to come to our farm in Eugene, we can arrange pick up times: 734-EAT-BUGS or sales@planetbugs.net

Immediate Care

Once you receive your mealworms, place them in the container with wheat bran or rolled oats for bedding. To ensure they stay hydrated, add a few small slices of raw potato or carrot on top of the bedding. Then, place the container in your refrigerator (see below), ideally between 45-50°F (around 7-10°C). This cool temperature will significantly slow their metabolism, keeping them in the larval stage and preventing them from turning into pupae and then beetles.

Refrigeration & Long-Term Storage

To keep your mealworms in "Maintenance Mode"—alive and healthy, but not growing or turning into beetles—you need to slow their metabolism with cold. Depending on your setup, follow the guide below:

Option A: The Dedicated Fridge

Ideal for: Wine coolers, dorm fridges, or secondary garage fridges. If you have a dedicated space where you don't need to keep milk or raw meat, you can set the temperature specifically for insect longevity.

• The Sweet Spot: Set your thermostat between 45°F and 50°F (around 7-10°C). This is the perfect "hibernation" range and will significantly slow their metabolism..

• Longevity: In this temperature zone, mealworms can stay fresh for 2–3 months.

• Placement: Anywhere in the fridge is fine!

Option B: The Standard Household Fridge

Ideal for: Most customers using their primary kitchen refrigerator. Standard kitchen fridges are usually set to 37°F–38°F for food safety. This is slightly too cold for mealworms and can cause "cold injury" over time. If this is your only option, try these suggestions:

• Warmer spots: Store your mealworms in the refrigerator door or on the top shelf. These areas are typically 3–5 degrees warmer than the back or bottom of the fridge.

• Insulate: Keep them in a thick plastic container or wrap the container in a small towel. This buffers them against the direct blasts of cold air from the cooling vents.

• Frequent Wakes: Because 38°F is stressful, ensure you take them out once a week without fail to warm up and hydrate (see "Weekly Maintenance" below).

• Longevity: In this temperature zone, mealworms can stay alive for 2–3 weeks.

Weekly Maintenance

Even in the fridge, mealworms need a drink once a week or so to stay alive and healthy. Following these steps will help you keep your mealworms alive and ready to feed out slowly over several weeks.

1. Warm Up: Take the container out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for 1–2 hours until they start moving.

2. Hydrate: Place a few thin slices of potato or carrot on top of the bedding.

3. Feed: Let them eat and drink for 3–4 hours.

4. Clean Up: Remove any uneaten potato slices (to prevent mold!) and put the mealworms back in the fridge.

Note on Bedding: You do not need to change the oatmeal or wheat bran regularly. Only replace it if it begins to look like fine, sandy dust (waste) or smells damp. For most users, the original bedding lasts the entire life of the batch.

Feeding live mealworms to birds outside

When feeding to wild birds it is important to protect them from the elements to keep them alive.

• Warm Weather: Make sure to keep the feeder & worms in the shade. Exposure to direct sunlight can kill them fairly quickly.

• Cold Weather: Live mealworms may freeze and die if unprotected from the cold, especially in below freezing weather. Include some bedding for insulation if temperatures will drop below 40°F.

If you are feeding wild bluebirds specifically, stray bits of oats or grain in your feeder can attract House Sparrows and other "bully" birds. To keep your feeder clean and your bluebirds safe, you can sift the mealworms to separate them from their bedding. You can use a handheld sifter with a 1/8-inch (3mm) opening for best results.

Consistent Supply:

We maintain a large and stable colony, guaranteeing a consistent supply of live mealworms year-round.

Contact Us: 

Partner with us for your live mealworm needs. Contact us for a personalized quote and to discuss how we can help your business thrive 734-EAT-BUGS / 734-328-2847 or sales@planetbugs.net