Dried mealworms

[Kerry L]

Hi

Will you eventually do larger sized tubs of the dried worms? The fat with insects is extremely popular in my garden, and while I like to make my own suet thingies, haven't had the nerve to add live mealworms to hot fat - too cruel. 50 grams probably wouldn't last long, hence the request.

Also as we are now down to fortnightly bin collections, will you be making the plastic packaging recyclable?

Regards, Kerry

[Jenny]

Kerry,
I buy live mealworms - well at least I'm intending to and hoping no past repetitions - and if you really need to kill live ones - pop them in the fridge then freezer - it kills them like a frost would and doesn't have quite the nasty feeling cruelty of dunking them in hot fat! I couldn't do that either - just like I got taught to kill lobster using a needle - far better than boiling the poor thing to death or drowning it as some do!

I've asked Lisa (members' suggestions forum thread) if CJ can look into producing bird cake with dried insects in it - she said they were looking into it so hopefully in a few months, we will have some answers.

Whilst that's not much help with mealworms, have you tried making bird cake with berries? Last year we had a four month long blackberry season and (after pigging it till we were sick of blackberry and apple pie/sorbet/yoghurt etc. I used last of the fruit in a birdcake - adding them at last minute and stirring in. Cut it up and stuck it out the next day in various feeders and whow! gone! Even my own late blackberries were ignored in preference (though consumed later with gusto!).

What's latest report on he-man?

[Kerry L]

Hi Jenny

Second time lucky - I just finished this post once and the blooming computer switched itself off!
I still think it sounds a bit mean to give them hypothermia, but then by feeding them to the birds, that is really mean - so I am such a hypocrite!

Now I am curious as to how you polish off a lobster with a needle!

I haven't tried the berry bits, but there are so many different berries around this garden I never bothered. I know what you mean about having too many. When we first moved in there were lots of raspberry canes in the garden and there was a glut. We had berries morning noon and night - even filled the freezer. In the end I looked like one - I developed hives!:(

He man is fine, especially as he is enjoying his new bird feeding toys. He sits in the dining room with the binoculars and surveys his estate. He did the RSPB birdwatch thing earlier, and just as you predicted, the little darlings went AWOL. Still, he managed a few - a redwing was a good one, we haven't had one for years. He was rescued by peckish starlings at the end of the watch and he was pleased that they had outnumbered the pigeons, and there were 11 different types. After he had finished, there was a flurry of greenfinches - he only spotted 3 earlier, typical!

I must go now, number one son wants me to finish dying his hair. This time it is bleach followed by bright red ("and only at the front - don't forget the roots, and don't go too far back, etc"! - the joys of having teenagers!;)

Regards, Kerry

[Sahbster]

What do you think of this then !!!!

If you feed your pet lizard, snake or amphibian on mealworms then you may want to consider removing the head first! Mealworms have strong jaws and can chew their way through your pets stomach and out through the body cavity. :eek: By removing the heads you will prevent this. Only those animals that don't chew and kill their prey first are at danger, things like frogs, newts, Axolotl and salamanders are the main pets at risk.

I am just trawling the web to see if they are available 'live' from fishing suppliers.

Could buy them local then, if they are not too much dearer, and not upset the posties !!

[Sahbster]

''http://www.wormsdirectuk.co.uk/images/worms/spacer.gifMealworms are the larval stage of the Flour beetle, it is about 2cm long and is attractive to all fish, particularly when they are fed up with being presented with the same old bait!
Mealworms are easy to keep and clean, they will keep for long periods in a refrigerator at a temperature of 5degC to 10degC.''

Will have a look in my local fishing supply shop to check out prices.

100grms £4.80 250grms £6.50 500grms £11.50, from the first online site I looked at

500 GRMS on c.j's for a tenner, no difference when you add post and packing, but you won't upset your postman. :)