mealworm beetle invaded by mite

[E Orix]

Mite infestation can be a common event.
In my opinion it generally is when the Mealworms are bred in plastic containers or old refrigerators(plastic/metal walls).
The surface of the containers can't absorb any moisture and the humidity caused by the worms and food condenses on the walls.
You then get a mite bloom which is often a pink/grey dust.
Ventilation and air movement seem to solve the problem for me.
My friend was using an old upright freezer and kept having a massive mite problem.I fixed it by drilling two 15mm holes up the top and
wiring a small fan out of a computer.
My worms are bred in a room lined with plywood and heated by a very small fan heater and we do not have any problems with mites.
We do have problems with bran/pollard infested with flour moth though.
Recently our insect room and every thing else got flooded I simply turned on its aircon and left the door open and no problems.
Here we have more trouble keeping our temperature down in summer than warm in winter.
Try and get the humidity down and see if that helps.

[Tintola]

Freezing the bran for 24 hours will also kill them.

[Craig52]

Hey bannana man, do you like my little birdies. Tintola wouldnt that draw alot of moisture into the bran for trouble down the track. Craig

[west finch]

Thanks for the solutions I’ll try them all next time I get some beetles. It appears that treating the pollard is important, as is watching the moisture that is fed and air flow will help reduce humidity . Thanks again Regards Westfinch

[Tintola]

Hey bannana man, do you like my little birdies. Tintola wouldnt that draw alot of moisture into the bran for trouble down the track. Craig

A sealed bag, frozen should not absorb any extra moisture. Where would it come from?

[Craig52]