Zophobas

Zophobas
Zophobas morio
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Tenebrionidae
Genus: Zophobas
Blanchard, 1845
Species

see text

Zophobas is a genus of beetles in the family Tenebrionidae, the darkling beetles. In Cuba beetles of this genus are known as blind click-beetles.[1]

Perhaps the best known species is Zophobas morio, a beetle whose larvae are robust mealworms sold as food for pets such as lizards. The larvae are known commonly as "superworms".[2] They can also be used to feed fish such as tilapia in commercial aquaculture, in the form of meal.[3]

Zophobus atratus is also used as pet food, sold in pet stores[4] under the name "giant mealworms", but should not be confused with darkling beetle mealworms sprayed with juvenile hormone.[5] Studies have found that in the wild the larvae sometimes live in bat guano, and they tend to cannibalize the pupae of their own species.[6]

Species include:[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Garrido, O. H. and E. Gutierrez. (1994). Variability of Zophobas rugipes Kirsch (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Tenebrioninii) in Cuba. Insecta Mundi. 8(3-4). Paper 284.
  2. ↑ Darkling Beetle and Larva, Zophobas morio. Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory.
  3. ↑ Jabir, M. D. A. R., et al. (2012). Nutritive potential and utilization of super worm (Zophobas morio) meal in the diet of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) juvenile. African Journal of Biotechnology 11(24) 6592-98.
  4. ↑ Miller, J. S., et al. (1996). Eicosanoids modulate nodulation responses to bacterial infections in larvae of the tenebrionid beetle Zophobus atratus. J Insect Physiol 42(1) 3-12.
  5. ↑ Ichikawa, T. and H. Sakamoto. (2013). A third type of defensive behavior in the tenebrionid beetle Zophobas atratus pupae. Journal of Insect Science 13 33.
  6. ↑ Tschinkel, W. (1981). Larval dispersal and cannibalism in a natural population of Zophobas atratus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Anim Behav 29 990-96.