Have you ever stumbled across these tiny brown worms and thought of what do these Super Worms turn into once they are fully grown?
Well, that is precisely what we will be uncovering in this blog.
Interestingly, these super worms turn into adult Zophobas Beetles – after going through various stages of development and growth from larvae to beetles.
So, from breeding these worms to growing them into full-sized adults, you will get to know everything here!
Without any further ado, let’s get right into it.
What are Super Worms?
Superworms are the larvae of the Zophobas beetles. Generally, they are used as a primary food source for a myriad of different pets and animals.
You can easily find any of these super worms (larvae) in the pet stores under the food section.
They are popular and easy meals for various animals, be it hedgehogs, reptiles, birds, etc.
Moreover, these super worms can even grow up to 2 inches in length.
But, more importantly, you have to be extremely careful while keeping these as they can eat almost anything, be it paper products or containers.
Further, it is essential to give these super worms planned meals to turn cannibalistic, especially if kept with other worms.
So it is advised to take precautions if you plan on getting these worms.
Furthermore, the life cycle of these super worms is almost identical to any other species of beetles.
But, what makes these stand out is that these super worms stay as larvae for several months during their life cycle.
The Life Cycle of Superworms – Mating
These Darkling beetles are estimated to have over 20,000 different species. And these super worms belong to the Zophoba beetle species of the darkling beetles.
Moreover, these worms are popularly known as King worms, Morio worms, or even Zophobas.
During the mating period of these darkling beetles, the male usually copulates a sufficient amount of male gametes inside the female.
So that it could fertilize all the matured eggs that she will have from time to time.
All the male’s gametes stay inside her body within a particular tissue/organ and will be used per matured eggs’ availability.
Along with this, the development of super worms from an egg to an adult beetle is called metamorphosis; each specific stage is significantly different from the previous.
- Laying Eggs
The eggs laid by these female darkling beetles are whitish and about a tenth inch long.
The female beetle lays all her eggs in the ground or in decaying bodies of animals that remain in decomposing tree barks or on withering vegetation.
Also, these eggs don’t require consistent care, so the female beetle goes away and lets the egg mature and hatch in its own with time.
And after spending numerous days growing, the egg hatches and lets the tiny larvae (super worm) out.
- Larval Stage
Super worms can spend months as larvae. In this stage, these worms have a well-developed mouth, and three pairs of legs, for easy mobility.
Most of the time, super worms survive on withering vegetation, plants (leaves), and the bark of trees.
However, if you intend to have these as pets, you could feed these worms – apples, lettuce, squash, or any other fruits/vegetables you want.
- Pupal Stage to Adult Beetle
For the initiation of the pupal stage, these super worms need to be isolated from other worms because if they stay with the others, they can remain in the larvae stage for about six months or even a year.
In the pupal stage, the bodies of the super worms constantly change. As these worms start growing, they shed their skin multiple times during this stage.
When the super worms are prepared to pupate, they wrap their head and tail and form cocoons from silk, creating a protective and hard shell.
Moreover, if you notice it carefully, the pupae seem to be still and not moving at all. This is because they do not require any food at this stage.
The larvae continuously develop within the cocoon regardless of the lack of movement.
The super worm larvae are transformed into the various organs and eventually, the full body of the adult drilling beetle.
The whole process of changing from larva to pupa requires at least one to two weeks.
And then, the pupa develops into a complete adult beetle which can take about 14 days more.
Inside the cocoon, these super worms evolve various parts like legs, wings, antennae, and reproductive system.
And after the long process of reforming, the fully grown darkling beetle comes into being.
Even after these larvae have turned into adult beetles, their diet remains almost the same, so you don’t have to worry about the change of diet.
Generally, these darkling beetles are found in dark, cool, and wet places.
Moreover, the life span of these beetles can be anywhere between four to sixteen years.
The best thing about the super worms is that you can breed them in your garden or house for a constant food source for your pets, or to even keep them as pets themselves!
Summary
To conclude, these super worms turn into Zophoba beetles, a species of Darkling beetles. These super worms do not require a lot of attention or care.
The only thing you need to do is provide food to these worms. The process of the life cycle of these worms is somewhat lengthy.
The whole process of transforming from mere eggs to adult beetles is the complete metamorphosis of these super worms, where they are different in each stage.
However, these larvae can survive a long time, so if you want it to be developed into a beetle, it is suggested to keep the worm isolated.
In this extensive guide, you got an insight into the whole process of the life cycle of these super worms. We hope you had a great time reading!
