Q&A for How to Breed Superworms

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  • Question
    How long do superworms live?
    Community Answer
    From six months to a year, if cared for properly. They also must live with other superworms.
  • Question
    Why are there mini superworms after a few weeks in my superworm cage? Surely those worms don't breed while in the larva stage?
    Community Answer
    Are you absolutely sure they are mini superworms? They could be fly larvae. If you are 100% sure, check in the bin for any adult beetles.
  • Question
    What is the real name of a Superworm??
    Community Answer
    Zophobas morio is the real name. They turn into darkling beetles. They are nicknamed "superworm" because they are relatively large.
  • Question
    Can you mix the small, only weeks old superworms, with the large superworms? Or will the larger ones cannibalize the tiny ones?
    Rosalie Mikkelson
    Community Answer
    Sometimes they will eat the smaller ones, other times they'll be fine. But you should keep them separated, just for a precaution.
  • Question
    How many bugs does it take to breed them?
    Community Answer
    Well, technically two, but it's best to have anywhere from 50 to 100 to make sure they have plenty of opportunities to breed.
  • Question
    I have tons of beetles but no worms, what can I do?
    Community Answer
    Keep them together- continue feeding them, making sure they're getting enough water in their foods (like fruits), and keep them alive.
  • Question
    Can I feed my super worms quick cooking oatmeal, and can I use night crawler bedding for them?
    Community Answer
    Yes, raw quick cooking oatmeal is fine! Avoid night crawler bedding though, as night crawlers prefer softer dirt, whereas superworms will chew and eat their substrate. Raw wheat, bran, or even raw oatmeal works as substrate for superworms.
  • Question
    How do we know if they are female or male?
    Community Answer
    You can only tell on the beetles, not the worms. Using a magnifying glass, inspect the separation in their end segments. If there is little separation and a pointed end, it's a female. If there is separation and a rounded end, it's a male.
  • Question
    I trying to rear super mealworms but I have a major problem. In my breeding site, most adult sare short-lived and do not reproduce. What are the optimal conditions for rising them?
    Community Answer
    Make sure you are providing ample food! Bran, oats, leaves, fruits, vegetables, or meat are all good options! Keep them in a good space (at least 200 square inches). For water, either gently mist them with a spray bottle a few times a day to provide condensation to drink, or keep a small, shallow container of water with them. Or simply provide them enough moist fruits and vegetables to get their water intake. Use bran, what, or raw oatmeal as a substrate.
  • Question
    How many adults should be placed in the habitat for best results?
    Community Answer
    Anywhere between 50 and 100 superworms should be placed in the habitat for the best results!
  • Question
    Can superworms breed in their larva stage?
    Junebugging
    Community Answer
    No, as only in their adult stage do superworms have the inclination to breed. Larvae cannot be made to breed because it is simply not the life stage for them to do so.
  • Question
    Can my bearded dragon eat these at any stage?
    Junebugging
    Community Answer
    While they can, it is not recommended to feed your dragon the pupae or beetle stages, as their armour will make them more difficult to swallow and digest.
  • Question
    What is the ideal container for superworms and beetles?
    Junebugging
    Community Answer
    Tupperware is best because it is cheap, lightweight, and difficult to escape from. Unlike glass terrariums, they can be more easily transported and stacked.
  • Question
    Can you provide a list of items required to execute what you have listed above? Such as how many tubs with height, how many screened lids for each tub?
    Community Answer
    This is completely dependent on what you want. You can use Tupperware with holes poked in the top, egg cartons, or buy bug keepers from pet stores to keep your 'colony' in. Fresh fruit for adult beetles, small wood shavings or mulch for substrate. The size of your bins is entirely up to you, based on how many you want.
  • Question
    How do I look for any indication of where the eggs are? It’s been about 3 weeks and I don’t know how to look for them.
    Community Answer
    Superworm eggs are incredibly small. Use your phone's flashlight, and maybe find small white dots, but it's not necessary. You'll know if there are eggs if they hatch. Then, remove the adults and wait a few weeks for hatching. If none hatch, try again by putting adults back in.
  • Question
    How many worms will you get from 50 beetles from one cycle? So after you change them to a new container at 2 weeks how many adult worms can you expect to get?
    Mobina Khan
    Community Answer
    Two or three weeks after the mealworm has pupated, a mealworm beetle will emerge. This is known as a darkling beetle. The egg stage typically lasts 7-14 days but low temperatures and humidity can lengthen double this incubation time.
  • Question
    Do superworm beetles fly?
    Maxine Andersen
    Community Answer
    Superworm beetles can fly. They typically do this when they are in search of food.
  • Question
    Can you mix tiny 3 week old superworms with larger full sized ones, or will the larger worms eat the considerably smaller ones? I know you should protect the eggs, just not sure about the tiny worms.
    Mb_6afd030ba7f9
    Community Answer
    Play it safe and separate the smaller and bigger worms. That is your best option.
  • Question
    If you have a large amount of adult beetles, how much area should you have so they don't give off the pheromones?
    Mb_6afd030ba7f9
    Community Answer
    Give them a good amount of area so that they are not crammed or on top of each other but you do not need that much space. They should have enough room so that they can move around a little bit and not constantly collide.
  • Question
    Can I put normal mealworms with extra large mealworms?
    Community Answer
    The extra large might eat the small ones, so keep them separated.
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