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 #1517232


Gord57
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 Difference?

Is there a difference between superworms and mealworms? I heard mealworms are a good staple diet and everything, are supers the same?

Now, about breeding.
I planned on breeding supers but I had mistaken them for mealworms. So this is about supers since mealies are way too small for my adult leopard gecko. I need to know a couple of things first. What they turn into, if they can fly, everything I need to do to feed them and breed them and how big they can get. Can I have a picture of what a superworm turns into? Please, I need great detail.

Thanks!
-Grant
11/17/07  03:45pm

 #1517993


DragonPaw
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   Message To: Gord57   In reference to Message Id: 1517232


 Difference?

Yes, there is a difference. They are two completely different species.

Mealworm: tenebrio molitor
Superworm: zophobas morio

Also, superworms (compared to mealworms) are much more active, have pinching jaws so bite, are darker colored, have a black head and tail, have small antennae. Superworms and mealworms are rather similar looking however, which is why people often confuse the two.

Mealworms are not a good staple food. They should only be used occasionally as they are chitinous and have little nutrients. On the other hand, superworms can be used as a staple food as although they are chitinous as well, they are much more nutritious than mealworms.

Here are instructions for breeding superworms:

First, you need to get small, dark boxes or other containers made of plastic or other material the worms cannot chew through. The containers need to be quite small so the worm is kind of trapped and can only move around a bit, and need to have one or two tiny air holes. Sprinkle a pinch of oats into each container (you need about 10-15 containers/boxes).

Choose worms that are at least two inches if not a little longer. I measure mine by pinning them to the floor besides a ruler. If they are smaller, they are too young and will not become pupa. Put one chosen worm per container and shut it. Place the containers in a warm area.

Do not move the containers or open them for a week. After a week, check on each container. If worms are curled up, then that means they will become pupa. If the worms are straight and black, they are dead: throw them away. If they are neither, then give them a few more days in the box if you like to see whether they curl up or not. If they do not after this time, put them back with the rest of the feeder worms. Chances are these will not become pupa and will just end up dying later on. Leave the curled up worms alone again for another week.

After the second week, check on the worms. Some should at least be pupa (which look like little "white aliens" as many call them). If there are any dead ones, or dead pupa (which start to turn black) throw them out. Leave the remaining pupa for yet another week.

After the third week check again. You may have beetles, and you may not, but all should be pupa by this time. Again, throw away any dead ones. From this time on, check the pupa once a day. The brown/black legs of the beetles will be visible when the beetle is going to hatch soon. Next you will see a brown/black head and antennae. Eventually the pupa will entirely hatch into a brown beetle. This beetle will become black after about a day. Hopefully you are left with enough male and female beetles; that is why you need to start off with so many.

Keep the beetles in a box/tank with one to two inches of oats and some cardboard toilet paper tubes, egg cartons, and/or cardboard paper towel tubes on top of the oats. The beetles hide most of the time. Give them apples, carrots, potatoes, etc. for moisture. Hopefully you will have males and females which will lay eggs into the substrate. Do not disturb the substrate or you may destroy the eggs. The beetles live a rather long time - a few months. Once they die, keep the box with substrate in a warm area. The eggs will then hatch after a while and you will start seeing young supers. Or, you can move the beetles into a new box after a few months and keep the old box just for the previously laid eggs.

When frightened, the beetles will give off goop that smells like a barbecue of rotten food, or a barbecue gone wrong. If the beetle lands it on your hand; it takes several hand washes to get the stuff off. So try not to scare the beetles.

Here are photos of the process:

Superworm:



Superworm curled up before becoming pupa:



Superworm pupa:




Superworm beetle in pupa before hatching (about a day before hatching):



New superworm beetle (zero to one day old):



Superworm beetle (over one day old):




And just for comparison, mealworm stages (mealworm, pupa, and beetle):



And no, the beetles do not fly.
11/18/07  05:17am

 #1518058


Gord57
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   Message To: DragonPaw   In reference to Message Id: 1517993


 Difference?

I heard they do fly but just not very much.. Anyway, thank you. After the month of starting up and breeding, how many larva do get?
11/18/07  08:48am

 #1551786


Shive
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   Message To: Gord57   In reference to Message Id: 1518058


 Difference?

mealworms are an excellent staple for leos. i have been using them since i got my leos and mine are fat and healthy. mealworms are very easy to breed. i put them in a cat litter pan with some bedding and let them breed. i have never had any beetles escape. you have to feed them everyday or two. i put a slice of potatoe in there every morning for them. the only thing is you should take the beetles out once they turn because they have been known to eat the worms. hope this helps.
12/20/07  09:58am

 #1551788


Shive
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   Message To: Shive   In reference to Message Id: 1551786


 Difference?

oh and mealworms arent too small for adult leos. the rule is you shouldnt feed your lizard anything bigger than the space between their eyes.
12/20/07  09:59am

 #1565682


Gord57
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   Message To: Shive   In reference to Message Id: 1551788


 Difference?

I have my first pupa, its on its back, his legs are already sticking out, can he turn over? I’m not sure if I should flip him over or not, his head is sticking out and his legs are out..but hes still white.
01/02/08  06:17pm

 #1575979


Reptile Masta
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   Message To: Gord57   In reference to Message Id: 1565682


 Difference?

yea i just decided to check this forum out to see wut other breeders like myself were up 2 but yea don’t turn him they’re extremely fragile when they’re white just leave them be they have to build up their shell theyll be fine
01/10/08  08:54pm

 #1632266


Albinoboy29
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   Message To: Reptile Masta   In reference to Message Id: 1575979


 Difference?

Actually yes they do fly. It is sort of rare to see them fly but I found out the hard way. I put like 3 in for my lizard to eat and i had the lid off and one buzzed out of my room and I had to find it
02/21/08  05:00pm

 #1632864


Cajunkydd
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   Message To: Albinoboy29   In reference to Message Id: 1632266


 Difference?

ahahahaha thats funny having to find the beetle. Also just too say the pic that shows the beetle, the worm, the pupa and the quarter at the same time, the worm is a mealworm not a superworm. I also think that the worm were it shows it curling up is also a mealworm becuause they are too small to be a superworm and its not that dark.
02/21/08  10:09pm


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