Mealworms, superworms??

[Rebecca]

What is the difference between giant mealworms and superworms??

[Siretsap]

I think it's just the term people use. there are mealworms and superworms (giant mealworms).

[Wuntu Menny]

They are the larval forms of two different beetles. The mealworm is going to become Tenebrio molitor, and the superworm will morph into a beetle of the Zoophoba genus. Apparently, the superworms are regarded as the more nutritious of the two.

WM

[Siretsap]

I tought she was asking what is the difference betwen superworms and giant mealworms (which are terms people use for the same superworm)

[LISA127]

No, giant mealworms and superworms are two different things. The superworms are better. I heard u shouldn't feed reptiles the giant mealworms.

[Wuntu Menny]

Yeah, you're right Siretsap, I didn't read the original post correctly.

Disregard my stupidity. Supers and giant mealies are the same thing.

As for not feeding them to reptiles, that is nothing but urban legend.

That'll teach me to post replies before my morning coffee!

WM

[Rebecca]

So Lisa127, was wrong?? I can feed them safely??

[Wuntu Menny]

Yes, you can safely feed them to your critters. Legend has it that the evil, malicious "superworm" can bore a hole through the innards of any animal that eats it!!! Shocking, isn't it? Pure nonsense.

Most herps have the sense to munch up their prey before swallowing. Additionally, the life expectancy of any insect finding itself in the belly of a reptile is extremely short.

If, however, the worm tries to defend itself when the lizard chomps on it, they can inflict a good bite to the face. If in doubt, calmly crunch the GIANT mealworms cranium prior to offering it to your herp! I've found that a pair of fine tipped forceps works well for this.

WM

[LISA127]

Giant Mealworms and Superworms are two different worms. The Superworm is also the King Mealworm. The Giant Mealworm is just the Giant Mealworm. Wuntu was correct on his first post. And when I said the giant mealworm shouldn't be fed to reptiles, it had nothing to do with boring a hole thru the reptile. that's nonsense. I know Wormman's worm farm has both the superworm and the giant mealworm that they sell. They only sell the giant mealworm for fishing purposes, however. The superworm is recommended for feeding reptiles. Check out his site.

[bborysow]

I've seen some meal worms for sale, that were close to the size of super worms (Zoophobas). Apparently, they were regular mealworms fed a hormone so they would not pupate, but just keep growing as larva. Don't know how true this story was, but what I saw supports it. I would stay away from hormone pumped bugs given the choice. Can anyone verify what I've seen/heard?

[bborysow]

Should have added, when I saw these big mealworms for sale, they were being sold as 'Giant Mealworms'. ?!?

[LISA127]

Yes, bborysow, that's it exactly! The hormones are the reason wormman's worm farm does not recommond feeding them to reptiles. This is what i meant when i said giant mealworms should not be fed to reptiles. only superworms. There is a difference between superworms and giant mealworms! They are not the same worm!

So, yes, apparently what u heard is true.

[Wuntu Menny]

OK, perhaps I was mistaken. I've never heard of this steroid worm before, sounds a little sketchy. King, super, and giant have all been terms applied to the same larva where I'm from. I assumed it was the usual vernacular diarrhea normally associated with the hobby.

But really, the zoophopa looks just like a really big mealworm, doesn't it? I think the sworn testimony of an entomologist is the only way to resolve this little issue.

WM

[Rebecca]

What do the hormones do to the lizard eatting them?? I've been feeding my geckos them and they all seem fine infact they love them better then the regular ones.

[LISA127]

The superworm is darker in color than the giant mealworm, i think. i don't buy the giants, or haven't in a long time, so im not sure. but i think the color is different. and i think the giant is fatter around than the superworm, but the superworm is longer. im not positive about that tho.
im not sure what the hormones do to the lizards. but the reptiles love the superworms too.

[bborysow]

Various literature suggests the Superworms have a lower % chiten, so more food value. Also one big difference... you can keep SuperWorms alive and not pupating for many weeks. They will only pupate if individuals are isolated, so I buy a couple 1000 at a time, keep them all together in a rubbermaid. Feed them veggies and fruits and they will be available as good feeder bugs for a long time.

[Rebecca]

If the hormones make the mealworms not turn into pupa (sp?) then why do I have some in their container??

[Siretsap]

Can you give us the cite where you say there are giant mealworms and superworms ? Everywhere in Montreal they sell giant mealworms and superworms (but they are the same thing) that is why I say most people use the 2 names for the superworms.
I would like to see some pictures of the giant mealworms.
Normal mealworms will turn into pupae, but superworms will only turn into pupae if they are isolated.

[LISA127]

I don't know if he has any pictures, but wormman's worm farm has superworms they sell for reptiles, and giant mealworms they sell for fishing.

[LISA127]

the site is www.wormman.com

[Linds]

Yup. Lisa is right, supers are are a different colour and have more colours in them than the giant mealies do. Giant mealies look like normal mealies, which are solid coloured and different from that of supers.

Originally posted by bborysow
Also one big difference... you can keep SuperWorms alive and not pupating for many weeks. They will only pupate if individuals are isolated

LOL... unless you have my cat, Little *******. He takes all the work out of getting supers to pupate, damn cat manages to unlatch the place I keep them in and they escape in to my house, when I clean I find all the aliens and often I find beetles crawling around :rolleyes: The one time I was sleeping and one almost crawled in my eye! Not a great way to wake up let me tell ya! :eek:

[bborysow]

Does Little ******* catch the Beetles? I bet not, they give off a stink that is like sniffing turpentine. My Dragons do like the aliens! I have various glue traps in strategic locations for escapees.

[Linds]

He catches all bugs, but for the most part just brings them in my bed to play with them :mad: He will eat crickets usually... but not before ripping them up enough that he leaves their limbs in my bed :mad: I'm not sure any scent can deter him...lol :p He loves vinegar and that sort of stuff.

[Siretsap]

Lolol, I have a huge water dragon cage and some of the superworms managed to escape once because one of the females flipped the bowl containign their food. Anyhow, about a week ago, I was moving stuff around in the reptile place and found 2 of the beetles copulating behind a cage. Damn I wanted to take pictures. My cat usually finds crickets and will play them to death but haven't found a beetle yet.