Live Mealworms for Reptiles & Birds

Keep feeding time lively with live mealworms from Hive Queen Insects, raised with care in Batavia, Ohio. Choose the size and quantity that suit your pets, from tiny mealworms for tiny pets to large feeders, in counts from 250 to 10,000.

Carefully raised feeder insects

Hive Queen Insects is a small, woman-owned business dedicated to serving its community. Its mealworms are fed wheat bran and locally sourced produce, with a higher-calcium diet intended to improve their nutritional profile for common reptile species. The supplier describes this feeding approach as making their nutrition more comparable to Dubia roaches.

These mealworms are never sprayed with hormones or chemicals and are raised without unnatural additives. Hive Queen prioritizes humane care and avoids fruits and vegetables that could be harmful to reptiles. Mealworms provide protein, vitamins, and minerals for scaled, feathered, prickled, and furry pets. Choosing Ohio-raised feeders also supports a small business and can reduce shipping distance for nearby customers.

Sizes and quantities

• Sizes: Tiny (suitable for tiny pets), Small, Medium, and Large.
• Counts: 250, 500, 1,000, 3,000, 5,000, and 10,000.

Need a smaller or larger quantity? Contact the supplier at support@hivequeeninsects.com to discuss options.

Live arrival and delivery care

Hive Queen Insects guarantees healthy live arrival. Track your delivery closely and retrieve your package from the mailbox or porch as soon as possible. Live mealworms can overheat in direct sun or freeze in winter temperatures if left outside. If you are disappointed with your order, let the supplier know so it can work with you to make things right.

• Check your local weather before ordering to avoid extreme temperatures and weather-related delays.
• The supplier ships with USPS in summer and UPS in winter. Florida and West Coast orders use USPS year-round unless UPS 2nd Day Air or Next Day Air is purchased.
• Hold for Pickup is strongly recommended in summer and when temperatures reach 80°F or higher, or 45°F or lower. This keeps your package at the Post Office until you collect it. The supplier needs your permission and phone number to arrange it. Watch tracking carefully, as the Post Office may not call when it is ready.
• The supplier reports that most losses happen on the final leg from the local Post Office or UPS hub to your door. Unlike farms that always require Hold for Pickup to honor a live guarantee, Hive Queen aims to be flexible, but strongly asks that you follow its pickup recommendation in extreme weather.
• Once a package is with USPS or UPS, the supplier cannot control delays or predict arrival. Its USPS contacts may be able to provide location information, but cannot guarantee delivery timing.
• Report dead-on-arrival orders as soon as possible. The supplier will do its best to reship and may request a photo to help improve packaging.
• Ice packs: The supplier does not recommend them. It reports that after about 24 hours, melted packs can retain heat and release excess moisture, reducing survival in very hot conditions.
• Heat packs: Recommended by the supplier for small winter orders. They can help in cold conditions but begin to fail at freezing temperatures, so faster shipping is preferable.
• The supplier advises that quantities of 5,000 or more can generate enough warmth in temperatures above freezing, no lower than 34°F. Prompt retrieval is still essential.

How to care for mealworms after arrival

• Offer a piece of fruit or vegetable that is safe for your pet when the mealworms arrive. They will be hungry and thirsty after shipping and need to rehydrate and replenish nutrients.
• For longer-term storage, especially orders of 3,000 or more, use a smooth-sided plastic container. Mealworms cannot climb smooth plastic.
• The supplier recommends leaving the container unlidded unless a lid is absolutely necessary, particularly during refrigerator storage. A lid can trap moisture and cause problems over time.
• Provide dry food for longer-term storage. Wheat bran is recommended, or rolled oats if bran is unavailable. These grains serve as both food and a dry substrate.

Have questions about caring for your mealworms? Contact Hive Queen Insects for help.