Is there a good way to preserve excess Phoenix Worms and/or Silkworms, without robbing them of their nutrients? I have heard that when crickets or grasshoppers are frozen, they become much less nutritious to feed -- is the same true for for other feeders? And if so, is there a good alternative? We are thinking about starting up a Phoenix Worm colony, and possibly a Silkworm colony.
We don't have anyone in the area that we can sell extra bugs to, and frankly, I prefer the idea of having a "stockpile" at the ready. But only if there is a good way to do it without depleting them of their nutritional value, of course.
Can't comment on how successful blanching and freezing hornworms will be (they have a significantly higher moisture content than silkworms). Or BSF maggots.
For bsfl (pretty sure that's what phoenix worms are?), they can be stored for several weeks in a little bag with an air hole (I ordered a large group and just left them in the bags they came in, they lasted for several weeks. If you have a wine cellar or similar (8-10°c, but no lower) then they can be stored for up to 6 months (or so I'm told), because they'll suspend all metabolic activity.
That's for the ready to pupate black ones, anyway. I have no idea how it'd go with smaller ones.