- 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]
Consumption they eat apples.
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Farming
Legality
There are no known legal issues with the import, export, or sale of superworms.
Buying
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
