Zophobas

Zophobas
Zophobas morio
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Tenebrionidae
Tribe: Tenebrionini
Genus: Zophobas
Blanchard, 1845
Species

See text

Zophobas is a genus of beetles in the family Tenebrionidae, the darkling beetles.[1][2] They occur in the Americas, from the Neotropics into southernmost United States.[2] In Cuba beetles of this genus are known as blind click-beetles.[3]

Perhaps the best known species is Zophobas morio, synonymously known as Zophobas atratus, a beetle whose larvae are robust mealworms sold as food for pets[4] such as lizards. The larvae are known commonly as "superworms".[5] Superworms should not be confused with darkling beetle mealworms sprayed with juvenile hormone.[6] 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.[7] Researchers have discovered that the larvae can subsist on a diet solely of polystyrene (Styrofoam).[8]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference GBIF was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference BugGuide was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Garrido, O. H. and E. Gutierrez. (1994). Variability of Zophobas rugipes Kirsch (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Tenebrioninii) in Cuba. Insecta Mundi. 8(3-4). Paper 284.
  4. ^ Rumbos, C I; Athanassiou, C G (1 March 2021). "The superworm, Zophobas morio (Coleoptera:Tenebrionidae): A 'Sleeping Giant' in nutrient sources". Journal of Insect Science. 21 (2). doi:10.1093/jisesa/ieab014. eISSN 1536-2442. PMC 8033247. PMID 33834209.
  5. ^ Darkling Beetle and Larva, Zophobas morio. Archived 2016-12-25 at the Wayback Machine Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory.
  6. ^ Ichikawa, Toshio; Sakamoto, Hirofumi (2013). "A third type of defensive behavior in the tenebrionid beetle Zophobas atratus pupae". Journal of Insect Science. 13 (33): 1–12. doi:10.1673/031.013.3301. PMC 3735109.
  7. ^ Tschinkel, Walter R. (1981). "Larval dispersal and cannibalism in a natural population of Zophobas atratus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)". Animal Behaviour. 29 (4): 990–996. doi:10.1016/S0003-3472(81)80052-8.
  8. ^ Yang, Yu; Wang, Jialei; Xia, Mengli (2020). "Biodegradation and mineralization of polystyrene by plastic-eating superworms Zophobas atratus". Science of the Total Environment. 708: 135233. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135233.