Tiny worms in Dubia colony

[Dragonmommy15]

Today I was feeding my Dubia colony and realized the dry food was moving. I thought maybe a baby buried themselves so I moved it around and realized there are super tiny (almost barely noticeable ) what look like super tiny super worms in there. I did add to the colony not too long ago so I am assuming they hitched a ride with the new guys from where they came from. I'm also assuming they are cleaner bugs but I am worried when they turn to beetles they will fly in my house? Do you know what the life span is of the worm stage? I have the 3 drawer Rubbermaid dressers with my smaller nymphs so no lid on them so I'm thinking I could probably throw the beetles in to the breeder tanks that have lids as they become beetles. Just curious what the pros here would recommend!! Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[CooperDragon]

Can you post a photo of them? My guess is that you're right and they are cleaner crew larvae. If that's the case then I don't believe they fly so you can just let them morph and act as a cleaner crew in your tank.

 

[Dragonmommy15]

I can't remember how to post a pic...lol

 

[CooperDragon]

You can upload them here https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ and post them using the XIMG button.

 

[Dragonmommy15]

Yay thank you!! Ok so here is one in my palm to give size reference but there are many many more smaller. There are probably hundreds of them ? I know they don't fly now but at some point in their morph phase they will become beetles and they do fly ? I guess I'm just trying to figure out how long I have till that phase lol
Thanks again!!

 

[CooperDragon]

That looks like it will turn into one form or another of darkling beetle. I have a few of those in my roach tank (they came from morio/super worms). They don't fly but they can climb so it's good to have a lid on the tank. They just roam around eating dead bits and don't really bother anything.

 

[Dragonmommy15]

How many are too many? I have 2 40 gallon breeder tanks with adults (around 1500-2000 each tank) and the Rubbermaid tubs are 15.5"x22.5"x8.5" and house thousands small nymphs and high hundreds to thousand medium and up.
Thanks

 

[CooperDragon]

I'm not really sure. I have a colony in a 20g long tank and hardly notice the few that are there. I wouldn't want them to overpopulate though.

 

[Dragonmommy15]

Sounds good thank you

 

[SDragons]

Could you make screen covers for each drawer out of metal window screening to keep everyone in there place