What Do Superworms Eat?

Looking to know What Do Superworms Eat? What to feed superworms? Often referred to as “superworms” or even “king worms,” they are the larvae of a darkling beetle, Zoophobas morio. These insects are native to Central and South America, where they naturally inhabit dark, moist spaces in the soil. Traditionally, they have been raised in captivity for use as high-quality live food for reptiles, birds and fish. But recently, scientists have found that they also digest and thrive on a surprising substance: plastic waste.

In order to understand the secret behind the worms’ ability to eat plastic, researchers have analyzed the gut bacteria of these animals. They discovered that the worms’ microbes create enzymes that break down polystyrene into smaller molecules that may eventually be biodegraded and upcycled for use in other products. It is a process that could potentially mitigate plastic waste, but Rinke cautions that it will take time to develop, scale and test.

What Do Superworms Eat: Raise superworms

To raise superworms for feeding to your leopard gecko, start with a large container filled with a dark, grain-based substrate that is safe for them to eat (rolling oats, barley and stabilized rice bran work well). The bedding should be kept at about 70 – 80 degrees to encourage breeding. In about 14 days, there will be eggs within the bedding and the larvae will soon begin to feed.

What Do Superworms Eat: Larvae of superworms

Once the larvae reach their penultimate stage, they will curl up into a ball and cease almost all functionality as they prepare to pupate in the soil. They will form a hardened cocoon that protects them from predators and environmental threats until they are ready to emerge as full-grown adults. In the wild, this pupal stage typically takes two weeks.

During this time, they will continue to feed on a variety of foods including rotting fruits and vegetables, leafy greens and the flesh of other worms and insects. As they grow, they will be able to eat the more complex and nutritious parts of their food.

What Do Superworms Eat: Adult of superworms

Once they are ready to emerge, the adult worms will start eating again and will be ready to be fed to your leo in as little as two weeks. If you’re raising them for this purpose, it is important to “gut load” them, a practice that involves feeding them a nutrient-packed meal 24-48 hours before you intend to feed them to your leo. Unlike more gluttonous mealworms, superworms will not enter a state of inactivity to prepare for their pupal phase and are thus ideal candidates for this technique.

To keep your superworms healthy and happy, make sure they have plenty of hydration by regularly adding slices of cucumber and melon to their diet. Other hydrating foods include zucchini, apples, sweet bell peppers and potatoes. These should be sliced into pieces that are small enough for the worms to chew easily. It is best to avoid citrus, tomatoes or other acidic foods, however, as they can be toxic for them.

What to Feed Superworms

Keeping superworms is a fun and rewarding hobby. They are a nutritious snack for reptiles and other animal species. To keep your worms in good condition you will need to give them the proper food and environment for them to thrive. It is important to know what to feed superworms so that your reptiles can get the most out of them. In this article, we will discuss how to gut-load your superworms and provide them with the nutrients they need for optimal health. We will also provide you with tips on feeding superworms to your reptiles.

What to Feed Superworms: Larval stage

Throughout their larval stage, your worms will need to consume a variety of foods in order to grow into full-sized worms. They require a mixture of both wet and dry foods to sustain themselves. Depending on where they live in nature, superworms can consume plant materials, roots, slugs and even other worms! If your worms are lacking the essential nutrition needed to reach maturity, it can cause them to become unhealthy and even die.

What to Feed Superworms: Superworms life cycle

When your worms are ready to move into the next phase of their life cycle, they will molt. During this time, they will eat more wet foods like yams, carrots, and potatoes. During the molting process, you may notice your worms becoming larger and darker in color. After the molting is complete, your worms will enter their pupal stage. During this time, your worms will develop a silk cocoon that will harden over their body. This cocoon will protect the worms from predators and other environmental threats while they undergo transformation into adult beetles.

What to Feed Superworms: Different foods

The best way to offer your worms wet food is by placing thinly sliced fruits, vegetables and other hydration sources on top of their bedding. You can use cucumbers, melons, apples, sweet bell peppers and more. Avoid acidic foods like citrus fruits and tomatoes. Replace these foods every two days or whenever they begin to rot/mold.

Pupal stage

Once your worms have reached the pupal stage, they will remain dormant for a short period of time. You will be able to tell when they are ready by looking at them. They will start to curl up in a shape of a “c” or an “e”. This is the morphing process and you should not disturb them. If your worms appear straight looking and black, they are likely dead.

When you are ready to use your worms, they can be removed from their film container and placed into an empty one. You will need to add bedding and wet food into their new containers before you are ready to start feeding. You can purchase powdered grain mixes that will act as a bedding and double as their feed or you can make your own at home. Just make sure that whatever you are using as bedding, it is a 1-2” thick layer. You should also add some sand or crushed cheerios into the bedding to ensure that your worms will have the proper amount of moisture in their diet.