Mealworms Are for the Birds

Many birds eat insects naturally, so feeding mealworms to the birds is a natural thing to do. Plus, you’ll enjoy watching birds- especially bluebirds, and also titmice, chickadees, robins, catbirds, nuthatches, thrashers and others devour these mouthwatering morsels! 

Mealworms are the larvae of the beetle Tenebrio molitor. The larvae stage of the beetle typically lasts for 10 weeks. To maintain the larvae in a state of dormancy, they must be refrigerated at 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit (lower temperatures can kill the larvae). You can keep mealworms for several weeks and they will maintain their dormant state. As the mealworms warm up in your feeder, they will become active, attracting the attention of your birds.

Birds typically look for food around the same time each day, so it's helpful to place worms in a feeder or tray at the same time the birds regularly visit. Use a one inch deep, smooth-sided dish to make sure that the worms can’t crawl out. Mealworms are a great way for birds to have quick access to high protein food while attending to their nestlings.