Zophobas morio

Zophobas morio
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Family:	Tenebrionidae
Genus:	Zophobas
Species:	Z. morio
Binomial name
Zophobas morio (Fabricius, 1776)
Synonyms
Tenebrio morio Fabricius, 1778 Helops morio (Fabricius 1777) Zophobas atratus (Fabricius, 1775) Tenebrio atratus Fabricius 1775 Zophobas rugipes (Kirsch, 1866

Zophobas morio is a species of darkling beetle, whose larvae are known by the common name superworm, kingworm, barley worm, morio worm or simply Zophobas. Superworms are common in the reptile pet industry as food, along with giant mealworms (Tenebrio molitor larvae treated with juvenile hormone^{[citation needed]}).

The larvae resemble very large mealworms, about 50 to 60 mm (1.7–2.25 in) long when full size, but unlike mealworms, the ends of their bodies are very dark, almost resembling a black color. Once they reach sufficient maturity, the larvae pupate, emerging with a white to light brown colour; eventually darkening to black. The larvae fail to pupate if kept in a high density with many other larvae and plentiful food. Keeping Z. morio this way is commonly used to hinder pupation. To mature the larvae, they must be isolated for about 7–10 days. They will then, upon maturation, emerge from their pupal stage as darkling beetles.^[1]

Z. morio are generally accepted by captive 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,^[2] making them more digestible to some reptiles. The larvae are odor-free, but the adult beetles possess a pungent chemical defense that may be released when provoked. Z. morio can easily be contained, making them ideal for breeding 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."^[3]