Superworms are a rich food source for pets such as bearded dragons, geckos, and chickens. Although their high protein and fat content makes them difficult for some pets to digest, they are a great source of essential minerals to keep pets strong and healthy. 

Many pet owners want to breed these worms to ensure consistent, healthy food for their bearded friends. TopFlight Dubia is introducing the ultimate step-by-step guide to the superworm breeding process. 

Quick View At Superworms

Scientific Name:  Zophobas morio 

Nutritional Value: Protein, Fats, and Fiber

Life Span: 6 months - 1 year [NOTE: Larvae live for around 2-3 months]

Life Cycle Of Superworms

The life cycle of a superworm is called “complete metamorphosis.” It has four developmental stages, each markedly different from the one preceding or following it.

01. Egg

The female darkling beetles can lay up to a hundred eggs. She places them in the soil, animal carcasses, decomposing timber or vegetation. The eggs are white and relatively tiny, about 1/10 inch in diameter. They can hatch as soon as three days before the appearance of the next growth stage, the larva.

02. Larva

This stage is also called a ‘‘grub’’ and occupies a considerable part of the darkling beetle’s life cycle. 

During this stage, the aim is to grow and develop for adulthood. Adults are equipped with robust and well-developed mouthparts and three pairs of legs to process the obtained food, including decomposing plant material such as fallen leaves and tree branches. 

If these worms are isolated, they go directly into the pupal stage; however, if they are kept in a group, they will stay in the larval stage for up to an entire year. 

03. Pupa

The penultimate stage, the pupal stage, is a phase where the creation of a silk cocoon that protects the body from environmental damage. 

At this stage, principal organs of the body that were not developed in the larval stage start developing as those for adulthood. This usually takes a maximum of two weeks. It takes another two weeks for the pupa to emerge from its cocoon fully.

04. Adult

The superworm develops antennae, wings, legs, and an efficient reproductive system during this phase. It hatches from the ground as a new order of darkling beetle, although it will still feed on the same things it did as a larva.

Why Should You Breed Superworms?

Superworms can be cultured at home, which is one way of being confident that you always have fresh food for your pets. 

The worms grow in your controlled environment, which is best for their health. Breeding these worms may also be a fulfilling pastime activity. 

Here are some reasons why breeding these worms is beneficial:

• Cost-Effective: Purchasing superworms in bulk can be costly, but raising your own is a budget-friendly, long-term solution.
• Freshness: You will always be assured of fresh superworms to feed your pets, which is essential for their health.
• Self-Sufficiency: By raising your own superworms, you maintain a reliable and readily available source of feeders for your reptile, eliminating the need for frequent trips to the store.

Steps Of Breeding Superworms

Here is step by step process for breeding these worms: 

Step 1: The Optimum Environment That Encourages the Proper Growth of Your Superworms

The first important step in breeding superworms is to prepare the proper environment for growth. Most of these larvae thrive in dry conditions, hence the need to regulate the temperature and humidity of the house.

Optimal Conditions for the Culture of Superworms

• Container: Superworms can be bred in a standard transparent plastic container, or bin raised high to avoid escape by the worms. For optimal growth, it is recommended that the container you use is of a dimension at least 18-24 inches in length and 6 inches in depth.
• Substrate: Superworms eat vegetable matter and insect larvae but should be offered a substrate of oat bran, wheat bran, or cornmeal, as the worms can feed on these materials and burrow in them.
• Temperature: Breeding is best suited for temperatures within 75 to 85°F or 24 – 29°C. Store it the same way you would store the product in a warm environment, avoiding direct sunlight, which makes the environment very hot.
• Humidity: Low relative humidity is ideal for superworms, and the enclosure must be very dry. If the humidity increases, the process necessary for worms can turn into mold formation, or the worms can become too soft.

Step 2: Feeding Your Superworms

However, to breed these worms, understanding their diet is crucial for feeding and survival. These worms consume almost everything they encounter, but their foods must be nutrient-filled to support their growth and breeding.

Best Foods for Superworms

Vegetables: Superworms can feed on fresh vegetables, such as carrots, potatoes, and green vegetables. These vegetables quench the body's thirst and supply most nutrients.

Grain-based foods: Earlier, it was pointed out that oat bran, wheat bran, and cornmeal are good to use with superworms, amongst other things to feed them on. One can also mix some pieces of dry dog food into the meal so that it has a good amount of protein.

Avoid fruit: Superworms do not eat fruit, which may be hard for the pet to process. Avoid anything that is not a vegetable or grain.

Feed your pet small meals twice daily, and remove the uneaten food every few days to avoid molding or bacterial growth.

Step 3: Breeding Your Superworms

Superworms adequately fed and well-suited to their environment are now ready for reproduction.

How to Encourage Breeding?

They take their time to grow up, passing through several stages, from molting to the final stage of becoming beetles. When they become beetles, they will lay eggs, which produce larvae. Here’s how to encourage breeding:

Separate Beetles: When the superworms decide to pupate, one should isolate the beetles. 

Egg-Laying Environment: When reproducing the beetles, transfer them to another container with some wheat bran so they can lay eggs. 

Wait for the Next Generation: These larvae will metamorphose into superworms, and at a later maturity stage, they will also lay eggs to produce more larvae.

Step 4: Super Care: How to Look After Your Superworm Colony

Nevertheless, individual colonies must be adequately maintained and given timely, frequent attention.

• Monitor Temperature and Humidity: It is advised to continually monitor the temperature and humidity of the habitat to ensure the worms are comfortably alive.
• Replenish Food: Feed the colony with fresh food for nourishment and growth.

Step 5: Harvesting Superworms

Superworms take a few months to grow fully and are ready for harvest. 

You just need to take the worms out of that container and transfer them to another container where you can keep them for feeding.

Conclusion: Don’t Let Your Pet Go Hungry

With proper care and feeding, you can have a very healthy superworm colony that will help keep your animals happy and healthy. While there is a sense of accomplishment in breeding your superworms, one can buy equally nutritious food.

If you constantly need food for your pet, you can easily find Dubia roaches online on TopFlight Dubia.

Check out the great collection of roaches on sale now at TopFlight Dubia. 

Give your pet the food it deserves!