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|Habitat = Superworms naturally occure in the tropical regions of Central and South America, but have spread across the world for use as food for reptiles and other insectivorous pets. They are often found amongst rotting logs and leaves.<ref>http://reptilesalive.com/news/tag/zophobas-morio/</ref>}} |
|Habitat = Superworms naturally occure in the tropical regions of Central and South America, but have spread across the world for use as food for reptiles and other insectivorous pets. They are often found amongst rotting logs and leaves.<ref>http://reptilesalive.com/news/tag/zophobas-morio/</ref>}} |
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| + | ==Diet== |
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| − | ==Consumption they eat apples.== |
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| + | <nowiki/> Superworms are traditionally fed potato, apple, or carrots for as a water source in the pet trade since they are easy and cheep to find. keeping them in bran flake or rolled oats as substrate is acceptable for keeping them fed as well as allowing them to burrow and feel safe. Superworm larvae and there adult form both have bin known to accept protein sources like dog or cat kibbles and even dead fish, leaving nothing but tough skin and bones behind. |
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| − | <nowiki/> |
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==Farming== |
==Farming== |
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| + | Obtaining fully grown worms form a pet store can be the cheapest, easiest way to start a colony. separating the worms into individual isolation containers will insure they pupate into beetles. any worms that haven't curled in to a "C" shape or that don't pupate within 7 -13 days may need to be fed and grow more before being able to pupate. Once your beetles have emerged you may place them into a container of some kind, possibly a storage tub or glass tank with a fine mesh top or many small drilled holes so they can breath and let out excess humidity. you'll also need to pick a substrate like Eco- earth, rolled oats, bran flake, or even regular soil baked at 250°F for 20 minutes to kill any other organisms living there as a safety precaution. they will also need things to climb on and under. anything made of cardboard is suitable and cheep enough to discard when it becomes soiled. Once the beetles have gone from brown to black, feed them and provide a moist food than wait for them to mate. once the males climb on to the females and fertilize her eggs, hell climb off and she will go lay them in the substrate or in a hard to reach place like in between two pieces of cardboard or up agents the wall with her ovipositor . the mating and egg laying process can take a few hours to complete for a single paring of beetles. after about a week or so, the larvae will start to emerge from there eggs, nearly too small to notice in the substrate. once they grow a to your liking you can sift them out away from the beetles using a colander or mesh box with holes the beetles won't fit through. the beetles will continue to produce offspring along as they aren't too old. place the beetles back in there container with fresh substrate and repeat the process. store and let your worms grow out in another container, regularly feeding them oats or bran with some protein rich foods occasionally along with a fruit or vegetable for moisture. use for eating or feeding whatever your breeding superworms for. |
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==Legality== |
==Legality== |
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Revision as of 02:01, 19 November 2017
- This article is about superworms. For other darkling beetles, see Darkling beetle (disambiguation).
| Zophobas morio | |
|---|---|
 Zophobas morio larva | |
| Common names: | Superworms, Giant Mealworms, Zophobas, Darkling beetle |
| Size: | 1.5-2.25 inches |
| Color: | Tan with dark brown or black stripes |
| Defense: | Adult beats emit foul odor when disturbed |
| Range: | Tropical regions of Central and South America |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Tenebrionidae |
| Genus: | Zophobas |
| Species: | morio |
| Life cycle | |
| Egg | |
| ↓ | |
| Larva | |
| |
| ↓ | |
| Pupa | |
| |
| ↓ | |
| Adult | |
| |
| Preparation | |
| Stage consumed: | Larva |
| Cooking method: | Sauteed, boiled, toasted, fried |
| Parts consumed: | All |
| Toxicity: | Potential allergen |
Commonly referred to as superworms, giant mealworms, zophobas, or darkling beetles. Zophobas morio is eaten as the larval stage and is 1.5 to 2 times larger than regular mealworms, at up to 2.25 inches long. The larvae are tan with dark stripes at the end and a dark spot on their head.
The adults are black and have a fused wing plate. Their abdomen is pointer compared to Tenebrio molitor and the thorax and abdomen are not as
Habitat
Superworms naturally occure in the tropical regions of Central and South America, but have spread across the world for use as food for reptiles and other insectivorous pets. They are often found amongst rotting logs and leaves.[1]
Diet
Superworms are traditionally fed potato, apple, or carrots for as a water source in the pet trade since they are easy and cheep to find. keeping them in bran flake or rolled oats as substrate is acceptable for keeping them fed as well as allowing them to burrow and feel safe. Superworm larvae and there adult form both have bin known to accept protein sources like dog or cat kibbles and even dead fish, leaving nothing but tough skin and bones behind.
Farming
Obtaining fully grown worms form a pet store can be the cheapest, easiest way to start a colony. separating the worms into individual isolation containers will insure they pupate into beetles. any worms that haven't curled in to a "C" shape or that don't pupate within 7 -13 days may need to be fed and grow more before being able to pupate. Once your beetles have emerged you may place them into a container of some kind, possibly a storage tub or glass tank with a fine mesh top or many small drilled holes so they can breath and let out excess humidity. you'll also need to pick a substrate like Eco- earth, rolled oats, bran flake, or even regular soil baked at 250°F for 20 minutes to kill any other organisms living there as a safety precaution. they will also need things to climb on and under. anything made of cardboard is suitable and cheep enough to discard when it becomes soiled. Once the beetles have gone from brown to black, feed them and provide a moist food than wait for them to mate. once the males climb on to the females and fertilize her eggs, hell climb off and she will go lay them in the substrate or in a hard to reach place like in between two pieces of cardboard or up agents the wall with her ovipositor . the mating and egg laying process can take a few hours to complete for a single paring of beetles. after about a week or so, the larvae will start to emerge from there eggs, nearly too small to notice in the substrate. once they grow a to your liking you can sift them out away from the beetles using a colander or mesh box with holes the beetles won't fit through. the beetles will continue to produce offspring along as they aren't too old. place the beetles back in there container with fresh substrate and repeat the process. store and let your worms grow out in another container, regularly feeding them oats or bran with some protein rich foods occasionally along with a fruit or vegetable for moisture. use for eating or feeding whatever your breeding superworms for.
Legality
There are no known legal issues with the import, export, or sale of superworms.
Superworms are widely available in pet stores or from herpetological supply stores. There are no known sources of pre-prepared superworms, but they are available live from the following sources.
- HealthyCrickets.com (http://www.healthycrickets.com/buy_superworms/buy_superworms.htm)
- New York Worms (http://www.nyworms.com/superworms.html)
Rainbow Mealworms the world's largest farm: Superworms in bulk
