Superworm breeding

[Peeps101]

I am pleased to say that my superworm breeding was a success. I kept them in the container they come in from the store, gave them shredded carrots and I’ve noticed about 4 babies today. Now “100 count” went up to some more. I won’t be needing to buy some worms for a while .

 

[jamest0o0]

Superworms won't pupate without a hiding place/separation from other worms. You're saying they reproduced in that cup?

 

[Peeps101]

Superworms won't pupate without a hiding place/separation from other worms. You're saying they reproduced in that cup?

Yep

 

[jamest0o0]

Where are the beetles?

 

[Syreptyon]

You probably just missed the small supers at first. Larvae are biologically incapable of breeding

 

[Peeps101]

Where are the beetles?

The beetles?

 

[jamest0o0]

I agree, and the beetles are very large. I've never seen superworms breed in a small cup like that.

 

[Peeps101]

They aren’t that big yet

 

[jamest0o0]

Superworms pupate into large beetles, the beetles lay the eggs and the cycle continues. Superworms won't pupate in close proximity to other superworms though.

 

[Peeps101]

You probably just missed the small supers at first. Larvae are biologically incapable of breeding

It’s possible, but I’ve moved the dust or whatever it is around a lot to put in their food and I’ve been noticing more and more tiny ones

 

[Syreptyon]

It’s possible, but I’ve moved the dust or whatever it is around a lot to put in their food and I’ve been noticing more and more tiny ones

Well that's the likelier option than the impossible suggestion that your impotent worms produced offspring

 

[jamest0o0]

Might have gotten some tiny ones. You wouldn't be getting babies in a small cup and without beetles present.

 

[Peeps101]

I didn’t know they turned into beetles. I thought they turned into moths (maybe that was another type of worm?) Apparently Amazon and other places sell 35mm film containers for real cheap.

 

[jamest0o0]

Maybe thinking of waxworms?

 

[Syreptyon]

I didn’t know they turned into beetles. I thought they turned into moths (maybe that was another type of worm?) Apparently Amazon and other places sell 35mm film containers for real cheap.

It's pretty alarming when you encounter a SW beetle for the first time! They won't pupate in the crowded conditions in those cups, though. Every now and then I'll have a beetle or two pop up in my vivariums from an escaped superworm. They make a surprising amount of noise from climbing and being clunky armored bugs

 

[jamest0o0]

Haha I agree, the first time I ever saw a morio beetle I was shocked. Can't miss them.

 

[Mis_chameleon]

I have been trying to breed these beetles and it has taken quite some time to get even the small colony I have (20) they die off pretty quick and they dont pupate that fast, still have not seen any babies, going on 3 months now, and correct these worms need to be stressed out and by themselves in order to change to beetles, they are a social colony and won't change,it is almost impossible to breed these worms without pupating fist. horn worms change into moths and wax worms.

 

[Peeps101]

It's pretty alarming when you encounter a SW beetle for the first time! They won't pupate in the crowded conditions in those cups, though. Every now and then I'll have a beetle or two pop up in my vivariums from an escaped superworm. They make a surprising amount of noise from climbing and being clunky armored bugs

If I put the biggest worms in something like a Dixie cup would that work? Or do I need something longer?

 

[Peeps101]

Haha I agree, the first time I ever saw a morio beetle I was shocked. Can't miss them.

Can chams still eat them once they’re beetles?

 

[jamest0o0]

Chams tend to not like them, plus they have a hard shell.