Mealworms - dangerous?

[LRM]

I was downloading some information on mealworms from the web and I came across one site (Fresh Live Foods) which said that mealworms could be dangerous to pets.

It said that mealworms have strong jaws, and if pets such as lizards, frogs etc eat them whole and alive, then the mealworms can chew through the stomach and into the body cavity.

This is the first time that I have heard about this. Is it correct? Nobody else has mentioned it - maybe because I've only looked at bird sites.

Last year I saw a Robin whacking a leatherjacket against tree, several times before eating it. But when blackbirds pick up mealworms they pick up a beakful at a time so can't thoroughly kill them.

I had just bought some live 2cm mealworms from the pet shop for the first time, so I was a bit concerned to read this. But i presume they are Ok, as they are widely recommended.

[Kayleigh]

I have also heard the same but watching starlings eating them they turn the worm and hold it a while at the head end before scoffing the lot so I presume they kill them..
They seem to know what they are doing anyway..

[forestwildlife]

No its a total myth, I have 6 leopard geckos who eat meal worms every day and have never had problems and know loads of people who (some long time breeders) who have never had this problem.
This myth comes from a reptile dying and meal worms eating the corpse after (which they will do) and then the owner assuming they came from the inside.
HTH

[LRM]

Thanks for your replies - I can carry on feeding them now without worry.

[captaincarot]

Originally Posted by forestwildlife

No its a total myth, I have 6 leopard geckos who eat meal worms every day and have never had problems and know loads of people who (some long time breeders) who have never had this problem.
This myth comes from a reptile dying and meal worms eating the corpse after (which they will do) and then the owner assuming they came from the inside.
HTH

on the other hand they have killed frogs when fed at the wrong size.
by doing exactly what the op said. so most definitely no it is not a total myth. it is a reality

they are also pretty high in chitin which has no particular nutritional value. as a part of a varied diet they have a role to play but not to the exclusion of other forms of food.

[heliart]

If you watch a bluetit take mealworms to feed chicks, it will nearly always de-head them before entering the nest box. I was watching this happen just today.

[Fauna]

Originally Posted by forestwildlife

No its a total myth, I have 6 leopard geckos who eat meal worms every day and have never had problems and know loads of people who (some long time breeders) who have never had this problem.
This myth comes from a reptile dying and meal worms eating the corpse after (which they will do) and then the owner assuming they came from the inside.
HTH

I had an Acanthosaura sp fit and healthy (well it looked it), found dead one morning with hole in its stomach/side. I never kept excess mealworm in with my reptiles, only explanation was the "myth".