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Wiggling Yummy Meal Worms Attract Wild Birds
For many small birds there is no better universal Live Food than meal worms. Feeding live mealworms as a treat to Bluebirds and many species of songbirds has become a popular addition to seed feeders at many backyard bird feeding stations. Live food will attract Bluebirds, Robins, Blue Jays, Mockingbirds, Catbirds, Cardinals, Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Titmice, Wrens, Thrashers, Orioles, Tanagers, Juncos, Chickadees, Indigo Buntings, Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks, and many others to your meal worm feeder. Bluebirds, Robins and Wrens are birds that do not normally visit feeders, but they can't resist mealworms.
Many Bluebird enthusiasts have been quite successful in attracting Bluebirds to backyards and nest box trails throughout the country by feeding Meal Worms.
Almost all birds that visit our gardens feed on insects at some stage during their lives, but many songbirds are declining in numbers because of lack of good habitat and food. Mealworms add protein to a birds diet. Mealworms provide live food and nutrition to a great variety of songbirds, especially during the breeding season, or when cool rainy weather slows insect activity limiting the amount of live food easily available.
Mealworms are clean and juicy, NOT slimy. Thats because they are not really worms at all, rather the larvae of a small brown beetle. Mealworms have a high protein level. Meal Worms are raised on vegetable matter and cereal products making them extremely palatable to birds, another reason they make excellent live food. They dont bite!
Wiggling mealworms look like yummy candy to our birds! Just like leaf eating caterpillars found in the wild, mealworms are an excellent way of providing chicks the live food necessary for survival.
Most birds will eat Mealworms right from a dish placed on the ground. Another way is to place a dish or small plastic tub on your platform feeder or picnic table. The Mealworms are unable to climb the sides, therefore unable to escape. Be sure your container is high enough and slick enough to keep them in.
Types of Mealworms commonly used as Live Food
Most people feed songbirds common mealworms (Tenebrio Molitor) in either the medium or large size. If you have never tried mealworms before we recommend you start by trying the common mealworm in the medium size. Common mealworms are available in three sizes, small (about = Inch), medium (about > Inch) and large (about 1 Inch).
Also available are Giant Mealworms, which are the same species as the common mealworm. Giant Mealworms are specially treated to make them grow much bigger and fatter than the common mealworm. Giant Mealworms come in only one size, larger and fatter than a large mealworm.
The third type available is the Super Meal Worm or Superworm (Zophobas).We always like to call them Superworms since that is what they are most commonly referred to as. This species naturally grows larger than the Giant Mealworm but, according to claims, contains less chitin than both the common and giant mealworm. Superworms are quite large in comparison to common mealworms.
Care Instructions
Both common mealworms and giant mealworms require the same care. They are easy to store and should be refrigerated. Store them at 40 -50 degrees F. and they will keep for weeks.
Unlike both giant and common mealworms, the Superworm requires no refrigeration. Unlike common mealworms, it will not pupate and become a beetle if kept in warm conditions. For optimum shelf life, store Superworms between 70 to 80 degrees F. NEVER refrigerate Superworms it will quickly kill them!
When you receive your Superworms, you should place them in a plastic container with approximately 2 inches of wheat or oat bran (available below) or uncooked oatmeal. Cut a raw potato in half and place it cut-side down on top of the bedding. If it is more convenient, you can also feed raw carrot, squash or apple. Your Superworms utilize this food for their moisture requirements. Replace the food every several days, as it tends to get either too dry or moldy.
Pricing -- All Prices INCLUDE Shipping
Mealworms |
|
| 1,000 sm | $ 19.99 |
| 1,000 med | $ 21.99 |
| 2,000 sm | 27.50 |
| 2,000 med | 28.50 |
| 3,000 sm | 33.00 | 3,000 med | 36.00 |
| 5,000 sm | 46.00 |
| 5,000 med | 48.00 |
| 10,000 sm | 59.99 |
| 10,000 med | 69.99 |
Giants
Superworms
Still not convinced to try live food? Want to try both live and dry-roasted mealworms?
New York Worms, Long Island, New York
250
25.50
500
32.00
1,000
36.75
2,000
56.00
3,000
79.00
100
23.95
250
26.95
500
29.95
1,000
35.95
2,000
58.95
Try dry-roasted mealworms and dry-roasted Waxworms
Mealie Snax and Wax Snax.
Get 2,000 size cup Mealie Snax and 2,000 medium live mealworms with our
Mealworm Delight Special.