Grow your own edible insects

How to grow protein from edible insects

As global food systems face increasing strain from climate change, population growth, and supply chain disruptions, the idea of self-sufficiency in protein production is gaining attention. One of the most practical and sustainable ways to achieve this at a personal or community level is by cultivating edible insects. Insects offer a high-protein, low-resource alternative to traditional livestock and can be grown in small spaces with minimal environmental impact. So by growing edible insects, even if just in small quantities, alongside to growing plants which are protein rich, like soy, legumes and nuts, you can add vitamins, amino acids, minerals and fiber to your diet. For a full breakdown of edible mealworms nutritional content or edible crickets nutritional information you can refer to our website.

Growing your own insects, in particular mealworms, is a truly sustainable way to grow your own protein. Mealworms are considered one of the most sustainable sources of animal protein available and the easiest to grow. Their environmental advantages over conventional livestock stem from their low resource needs, high feed conversion efficiency, and minimal ecological footprint. Here’s a breakdown of why they’re so sustainable:

First and foremost you will need to make sure that the insects you use to start your colony are microbiologically sound and they are not contaminated with chemicals or pests. Look for reputable insect breeders that maintain hygienic, controlled environments and often test for pathogens and contaminants. You can look for suppliers certified for human grade that can provide certification of analysis, lab tests reports and certificate of compliance with local food safety standards.

The insects would typically have been tested for pathogens like Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli and for pesticide  and heavy metal residues .

Tip: Avoid bait shop insects or pet store insects—they may carry parasites, pesticides, or diseases.

Once you have obtained your starter colony, you will need to set up a clean environment with good ventilation. Ventilation is key, not just for the health of the insects, but also to avoid creating conditions for mold and fungal growth. Please note that insects are not “odour free”; however a properly maintained mealworm or cricket colony should have only a mild, earthy or grain-like scent. If your setup smells bad (like rot, ammonia, or mold), something is likely off.

Protein self sufficiency

Raise edible insects; mealworms

Set up a few trays with some starter larvae. The insects multiply exponentially, giving you lots of protein in no time. The life cycle of Tenebrio Molitor is divided into four phases: egg, larva, pupa and adult beetle. The overall duration of this cycle ranges between 8-9 weeks. The life cycle takes place as follows:

Hatching of the eggs

Newly hatched larvae tend to stay below the surface of the wheat bran substrate in which they live. Here they perform a series of moults as they grow up.
After 4 weeks they will have already reached 1cm in length.
The last moult takes place after about 2-3 months. As soon as the moult is complete, the larvae are white and their exoskeleton is still very tender.
The adult larvae become golden-brown in colour and are 2.5cm to 5cm long.
The larvae rise to the surface. Now they look fat and move little.
The larvae turn into pupae. During this phase they remain motionless all the time.
After several days (4 to 14), beetles emerge from the pupae, which are the adult life stage of the mealworm. At first these beetles are whitish, but in a few days they turn red, brown and eventually black. Their length varies from 1 to 2cm. It is not possible to distinguish the male from the female.
After 10-20 days of metamorphosis, the moths begin to lay eggs. A female lays 200-500 eggs in groups of 40 at a time for the rest of her life, which lasts 2-3 months.
The eggs hatch after 4-19 days (on average, after 12 days).

The production cycle

Mealworms need daily attention. They are better bred in food-grade plastic trays without lids, stacked. The trays must have smooth sided to prevent the insects from climbing out. These can be easily moved, allowing easy access for cleaning. Mealworms are harvested every eight weeks. The substrate, incubated with eggs from the Tenebrio Molitor beetles, is removed every eight days to avoid the eggs being eaten. Heating is required in the Winter months to maintain a temperature of approximately 24c, however due to the high insulation specification of the facilities, a 2kw fan heather is sufficient.

Each Tenebrio Molitor female beetle lays up to 500 eggs which will then into full size larvae. After that, you can decide how fast your colony expands, by adjusting how many mealworms you use, versus how many you keep for your next generation. In a matter of weeks, you should have plenty of insects.

You can follow us on our social media, where you will find information on our edible insect range Horizon Insects Instagram . If you would like to try cooking with insects, we suggest purchasing some of our dried insects products.