SUPERWORM CARE SHEET
Zophobas morio
INTRODUCTION:
BASICALLY, YOU SHOULD NOT THINK OF OR CARE FOR THESE MEALWORMS AS YOU WOULD DEAL WITH REGULAR PET MEALWORMS. THESE ARE QUITE A DIFFERENT BEAST.
RANGE:
NATIVE TO CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA. CAPTIVE-BRED IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1984. POPULAR THROUGHOUT EUROPE.
DESCRIPTION:
SUPERWORMS ARE A NON-HORMONE GROWN GIANT BEETLE LARVAE. THIS LARGE AND FULLY DIGESTIBLE MEALWORM CAN REACH 1-2" BEFORE PUPATION. FAMILY = TENEBRIONIDAE. AS A FOOD SOURCE FOR BIRDS, FISH AND REPTILES THEY ARE UNEQUALLED (SEE LAB ANALYSIS). THEIR RAPID MOVEMENT ATTRACT ANIMALS TO EAT THEM. AS A FISH BAIT THEY ARE USED FOR BLUEGILL, LARGEMOUTH BASS AND TROUT NATIONWIDE WITH SUCCESS. THEY ARE USEFUL FOR SKELETAL PREPARATIONS.
HOUSING:
DO NOT REFRIGERATE!!!
TWO INCHES OF PEAT MOSS IS AN IDEAL SUBSTRATE TO HOUSE THEM ON CONTINUALLY. ANY TYPE OF TRAY, BUCKET OR TUB CAN BE USED TO KEEP YOUR SUPERWORMS IN AS LONG AS THE SIDES PREVENT ESCAPE. THEY CAN REMAIN IN THE LARVAL STAGE FOR 3-5 MONTHS AND EVEN LONGER, IF NECESSARY.
TEMPERATURE / HUMIDITY:
THEY DO BEST AT ROOM TEMPERATURE & NOT ABOVE 84 F. DO NOT LET THEM GET BELOW 60 F. OR THEY WILL DIE. UNLIKE THE COMMON PET MEALWORM (TENEBRIO MOLITOR) THIS MEALWORM WILL NOT TRANSFORM INTO A BEETLE EASILY SO YOU WILL NOT LOSE THESE WORMS DUE TO THE METAMORPHOSIS PROCESS. HUMIDITY IS VERY IMPORTANT. THIS CAN BE PROVIDED BY MISTING THE TOP OF THE PEAT MOSS OR WHEAT BRAN DAILY. THE USUAL TEMPERATURE OF YOUR HOME, PET SHOP OR REPTILE ROOM IS IDEAL IN MOST AREAS OF THE UNITED STATES.
FOOD & WATER:
SUPERWORMS WILL EAT ANYTHING. YOU CAN FEED THEM OATS, WHEAT BRAN OR A CHICKEN MEAL CALLED "LAYENA" BY PURINA. LAYENA ENRICHES THE WORMS AND ENHANCES YOUR HERPS FOR REPRODUCTION. YOU MUST KEEP APPLE PIECES OR OTHER ITEMS THAT CAN GIVE THEM MOISTURE AT ALL TIMES. TO SUMMARIZE, YOU MUST GIVE WATER BY MISTING AND BY VEGGIE PIECES. IF THEIR MOISTURE REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT MET THEN THEY WILL EAT EACH OTHER.
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Written by: Ron Tremper, Center for Reptile & Amphibian Propagation, Boerne, Texas
rev 04/96