Description
Morio Worms Pre Pack 50g (Zophobas Morio) is a species of darkling beetle, whose larvae are known by the common name superworm, kingworm, morio worm or simply Zophobas. Morio Worms are common in the reptile pet industry as food, along with giant mealworms, which they resemble, about 50-60mm (1.7-2.25 inches) long when full size, but unlike mealworms, the ends of their bodies are very dark, almost resembling a black colour. Once they reach adult size, the larvae pupate, and later emerge as large, light coloured beetles, which in time darken to black. The larvae will not pupate if kept in a container with many other larvae and plentiful food, where they receive constant bodily contact. Keeping Morio Worms this way is commonly used to hinder pupation.
To mature the worms, they must be kept alone for about 7-10 days. They will then, upon maturation, emerge from the pupal stage as darkling beetles.
Morio Worms Pre Pack 50g are accepted by lizards, turtles, frogs, salamanders, birds, koi and other insectivorous animals. Their nutritional values are similar to those of mealworms, so it is possible that supplementation with calcium is necessary if they are used as a staple food item. In some cases they are preferred over mealworms due to their softer exoskeleton, making them more digestible to some reptiles.
The larvae are odour-free (but the beetles possess a pungent chemical defense that may be released when provoked), and can be easily contained, making them ideal for raising at home to feed a collection of captive insectivores. The nutritional profile of the larvae is “46.80% proteins, 43.64% lipids, 8.17% ashes and 1.39% carbohydrates.”
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