Product Details
In our experience, the combination of Dermestid beetles and lesser mealworms make better cleaner crews than either insect alone. Any weakness in one species is complemented by the strengths of the other. In the end, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. When it comes to cleaning roach colonies, Combination Cleaner Crews work cooperatively, not competitively. And the result is symbiotic.
Each Combination Cleaner Crew kit contains enough of each insect to establish a colony, provided the right conditions are met. If you have a successful Dubia roach colony, these conditions will most likely be met, with the main factor being a sufficient food supply.
Related reading: Get help deciding if you need cleaner crews »
How It Works
Both cleaner species (dermestids and lesser mealworms) enjoy a symbiotic relationship with Dubia roaches. This relationship works to their mutual advantage, and their proximity is a win for not only the insects but also for you.
In return for becoming food for Dermestes after they die, Dubia roaches enjoy tidier surroundings, better health, and a higher survival rate. In return for clearing debris, Dermestid beetles and larvae get a reliable food source that increases over time as the colony’s population grows. The colony’s growth fuels its own population growth, creating a positive cycle. The Dubia’s success is the Dermestes’ success, and vice versa.
On the other side of this equation, lesser mealworms work in the background, eating discarded food particles in frass. This reduces moisture and helps prevent bacterial overgrowth. There is also a positive cycle at work here, relating to frass and food. More roaches mean more frass, and more frass means food for the mealworms.
How Many Kits Do You Need?
While the number of cleaners in the Kits may seem small, they are proper for the job at hand for several reasons. First, these insects can accomplish a great deal of work. A few Dermestid beetles or larvae can process a roach carcass in just a couple of days. Second, people tend to overestimate the number of cleaner insects they need. More is not always better.
The right amount is the number that the natural die-off in the colony can sustain without compromising its health. It is best to start with only the number of cleaner crews a colony can support. Without food, they will simply die off, and these insects reproduce fast when food is abundant. If there isn’t enough food to fuel population growth, they will wait until there is enough.
Combination Kit Capacities
This is to give you an idea of the cleaning capacity of Combination Cleaner Crews right out of the box. It’s roughly the number of Kits a colony of a certain size might need for immediate full cleaning capacity. It’s not the number you need for a certain colony size. You can start with one if you like. They will reproduce at a rate dependent on the availability of food.
| Roaches/Bin Size | # of Kits |
|---|---|
| 0 – 500 & bin up to 4 sq.ft. | 1 |
| 500 – 1,000 & bin up to 4 sq. ft. | 2 |
| 1,000+ & bin up to 4 sq. ft. | 3 |
| 0 – 500 & bin > 4 sq. ft. | 1 |
| 500+ & bin > 4 sq. ft. | 2 |
Each Kit contains a roughly equal mix of Dermestids and lesser mealworms in a quantity that will help you establish a cleaner colony as outlined above.
Because each insect picks up where the other leaves off, combining these two species provides a significant boost in cleaning capacity compared to either alone. Of course, this doesn’t mean you can neglect your roaches. You still have to check in from time to time to see how they’re doing. And cleaner crews require some care, too. Although the effort is small and infrequent, it’s still good to know what they need, how they work, and what to watch out for.
In addition to the benefits outlined above, adding Combination Cleaner Crews can slow or stop the build-up of moisture and bacteria in a Dubia roach colony. They make the job of cleaning and caring for Dubia roaches much easier. Your mileage may vary based on your location and environment, but we are happy with this combination in our own Dubia colonies.
NOTE: While typically right at home in Dubia colonies, either cleaner species could be considered a “pest” in certain circumstances. We’ve never heard of any problems from roach keepers, but it’s always a good idea to understand the potential risks.
Richard K.
Cleaners came in healthy and ready to get to work! I can’t wait for them to blow up in population! They make such a huge difference in how much maintenance has to be done for my Dubias!
Jessi H.
Cleaner crew arrived alive and ready to clean up my stinky roach colony. Thank you so much!
Paul
These were a great addition to my Dubai roach bin.
Emily
Alive and went straight to work cleaning up my roach bin
S
Cleaner insects arrived in a timely fashion, well-packaged, but horrifically smelly. Luckily the smell went away, and I have no other complaints.
Margaret F.
Great shape! As described.
Riley
Awesome quick shipping and they’re all alive
Hector B.
Cleanup crew is taking care of my Dubia roaches
Rudy
They came in a timely matter and all the dubia roaches were alive.
Joshua M.
Everything arrived alive and well. Would order again.
Jason C.
Shipped very fast and arrived alive. They are thriving in my dubia container and doing their job well!
Tom B.
So far so good they seem to be doing their job.
Aleister M.
Items arrived alot sooner than anticipated and everything was exactly how I ordered.
Jo P.
The cleaning crew arrived healthy and on time. It is my first time raising Dubia, so having the cleaning crew to help is welcomed!
Luke
The cleaner crew exploded in my Dubai colony. They seem to be doing their job and honestly the bioactive nature of it all is just pretty cool.
Vida
Thank you for my order. I was told about the cleaner crew, and what it could do. I am glad it has worked wonders for my Dubia cage. I really hated having to clean the tank. I now don’t have due to the cleaner crew. Thank you
Elizabeth E.
I forgot I ordered these guys and left them in the mailbox for 4 days in freezing temps… totally my fault that half of them died. 😞 But the rest of them are doing fantastic and keeping the smell down in my dubia bin. I’ll be ordering more soon! (And won’t forget to check the mail this time)
Terrence W.
Amazing service and quality product.
Alli
Fast shipping, all arrived healthy!
Anonymous
The bugs arrived quickly and alive, I am so excited to see how they benefit my thriving dubia roach colony!
Jerinda E.
The mail was SUPER slow and my package was in transit for about a week but all my clean up crew bugs arrived alive and intact. Very happy to add these to my Dubia colony to make clean up easier.
David
Bugs arrived on time and alive. They are already going to work in my colony. Definitely recommend and will be purchasing again.
Nyasha
I love these guys. My colony is bigger than I realized, so I’m going to be adding another set soon.
Janelle
I think most of my Dermestid beetles made it, but it was chilly here the day they arrived (sudden drop in temps) and while everyone seemed alive when I put them in the habitat, I ended up losing all of my mealworms overnight. I think the Dermestid beetles are helping a bit, but I may end up getting another cleaner crew in the future. My roach colony (arrived in the same package) is thriving though, so no complaints here! Thanks guys!
Shade
They arrived quick and in good condition, I highly recommend.
Jason
Fast shipping and they do a good job cleaning.
Heather
Fast shipping and arrived active!
Kara
My colony was growing too rapidly for me to keep it as clean as I would like it to be. These did the trick. The colony is doing great and it’s less maintenance for me. The crew arrived in good shape. Everyone was live, healthy, and ready to go straight into my colony!
CJ
Fast shipping. Active bugs. So far everything seems good. I introduced a few to our colony to start just to see how things go.
Jason H.
Fast shipping great service
Nick C.
These have been amazing! We had a mild fly issue that came with my roach colony that I purchased from an acquaintance. A little cleaning and this clean up crew has things back in order.
Roxanne F.
These cleaners arrived today and all were in great shape and very active. I couldn’t be happier. Shipping was fast and they were packaged very well. Thanks!
Jason
These beetles made a big difrence in my Dubia colony. They cut cleaning at least in half. I clean less often and the frass stays dry where before it was wet. I never thought cleaner crews mattered much. Now I highly recommend them.