What Do Mealworms Eat? A Complete Feeding Guide

What Do Mealworms Eat? A Complete Feeding Guide

If you’re starting your first mealworm farm, one of the first questions you’ll have is, “What do mealworms eat?”

The good news is that mealworms aren’t picky eaters. With the right combination of dry food and moisture, they’ll grow quickly, stay healthy, and produce the next generation of beetles.

In this guide, we’ll cover exactly what to feed your mealworms, what foods to avoid, and how often to feed them.

The Two Things Mealworms Need

Mealworms require two basic food sources:

• A dry grain-based food for nutrition
• A moisture source to keep them hydrated

Providing both is the key to maintaining a healthy colony.

Best Dry Food for Mealworms

The dry food also serves as your colony’s bedding. Mealworms burrow through it, eat it, and leave behind frass (their waste), which can later be sifted out.

Excellent bedding choices include:

• Wheat bran (our favorite)
• Rolled oats
• Ground oats
• Wheat middlings
• Chicken mash (unmedicated)

At Squirmy Snacks, we recommend 100% wheat bran because it’s clean, nutritious, inexpensive, and easy to sift during routine maintenance.

Best Moisture Sources

Mealworms don’t need a water bowl. In fact, standing water can drown them and quickly create mold.

Instead, provide moisture-rich fruits or vegetables.

Great options include:

🥕 Carrots (our top recommendation)

🥔 Potatoes

🍎 Apples

🥒 Cucumbers

🥬 Romaine lettuce

🥒 Zucchini

Sweet potatoes

Fresh vegetables should be replaced every few days before they begin to spoil.

Our Favorite Choice: Carrots

Carrots are one of the easiest and best foods for mealworms.

They:

• Stay fresh longer than many vegetables.
• Provide excellent moisture.
• Don’t become mushy as quickly.
• Help reduce mold problems.
• Are inexpensive and easy to find.

Simply place a few slices on top of the bedding and replace them as they dry out or begin to soften.

How Often Should You Feed Mealworms?

The dry bedding doesn’t need frequent replacement because it serves as both food and habitat.

Instead:

• Add fresh vegetables 2–3 times per week, or whenever they’ve dried out.
• Refill wheat bran as your colony consumes it or after cleaning.
• Remove old vegetables before mold develops.

A healthy colony should always have access to both dry food and fresh moisture.

Foods to Avoid

Not every food is suitable for mealworms.

Avoid feeding:

• Moldy fruits or vegetables
• Salty foods
• Sugary snacks
• Processed foods
• Meat
• Dairy products
• Oily foods
• Citrus in large amounts

Spoiled food can encourage mold, mites, and bacteria that may harm your colony.

Do Mealworms Eat Their Bedding?

Yes!

Unlike many insects, mealworms actually consume the bedding they live in.

As they eat, they gradually convert the wheat bran or oats into frass, which looks like a fine brown powder.

Over time, you’ll want to sift out the frass and replace it with fresh bedding to keep your colony healthy.

Can Mealworms Eat Vegetables Only?

No.

Vegetables provide moisture, but they don’t contain enough nutrition to support healthy growth.

Mealworms need a constant supply of grain-based food like wheat bran or oats in addition to fresh vegetables.

Think of it this way:

• Dry bedding = their main meal
• Fresh vegetables = their drink

Both are essential.

Feeding Tips for a Healthy Colony

A few simple habits can make a big difference:

• Keep bedding at least 2–3 inches deep.
• Don’t overfeed vegetables.
• Remove old produce before it molds.
• Keep the colony dry and well ventilated.
• Feed consistently instead of all at once.

Healthy mealworms grow faster, pupate more successfully, and produce stronger beetles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can mealworms eat oatmeal?

Yes. Rolled oats or ground oats are a good alternative to wheat bran.

Can mealworms eat carrots every day?

Absolutely. Carrots are one of the best moisture sources and can be offered continuously as long as they’re replaced when they dry out.

Do mealworms need water?

No. They get the moisture they need from fresh fruits and vegetables.

Can mealworms eat bread?

They can nibble on small amounts, but wheat bran or oats provide much better nutrition and should remain their primary food source.

Can mealworms eat bananas?

Yes, but bananas spoil quickly and can increase the risk of mold. They’re best used sparingly.

The Bottom Line

Mealworms are surprisingly easy to feed. A healthy colony only needs a quality grain-based bedding—such as wheat bran—and a steady supply of fresh vegetables for moisture.

With the right diet, your colony will grow quickly and provide a continuous supply of healthy mealworms for reptiles, backyard chickens, wild birds, hedgehogs, spiders, and many other insect-eating animals.