Biology:Zophobas
Zophobas is a genus of beetles in the family Tenebrionidae, the darkling beetles.[1][2] They occur in the Americas, from the Neotropics into southernmost United States.[2] In Cuba beetles of this genus are known as blind click-beetles.[3]
Perhaps the best known species is Zophobas morio, synonymously known as Zophobas atratus, a beetle whose larvae are robust mealworms sold as food for pets[4] such as lizards. The larvae are known commonly as "superworms".[5] Superworms should not be confused with darkling beetle mealworms sprayed with juvenile hormone.[6] Studies have found that in the wild the larvae sometimes live in bat guano, and they tend to cannibalize the pupae of their own species.[7] Researchers have discovered that the larvae can subsist on a diet solely of polystyrene (Styrofoam).[8]
Species
Species include:[3]
- Zophobas morio
- Zophobas batavorum
- Zophobas laticollis
- Zophobas rugipes
References
- ↑ "Zophobas Blanchard, 1845". Species. GBIF. http://www.gbif.org/species/4722162.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Genus Zophobas". https://bugguide.net/node/view/110848.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Garrido, O. H. and E. Gutierrez. (1994). Variability of Zophobas rugipes Kirsch (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Tenebrioninii) in Cuba. Insecta Mundi. 8(3-4). Paper 284.
- ↑ Rumbos, C I; Athanassiou, C G (1 March 2021). "The superworm, Zophobas morio (Coleoptera:Tenebrionidae): A 'Sleeping Giant' in nutrient sources". Journal of Insect Science 21 (2). doi:10.1093/jisesa/ieab014. PMID 33834209.
- ↑ Darkling Beetle and Larva, Zophobas morio. Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory.
- ↑ Ichikawa, Toshio; Sakamoto, Hirofumi (2013). "A third type of defensive behavior in the tenebrionid beetle Zophobas atratus pupae". Journal of Insect Science 13 (33): 1–12. doi:10.1673/031.013.3301.
- ↑ Tschinkel, Walter R. (1981). "Larval dispersal and cannibalism in a natural population of Zophobas atratus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)". Animal Behaviour 29 (4): 990–996. doi:10.1016/S0003-3472(81)80052-8.
- ↑ Yang, Yu; Wang, Jialei; Xia, Mengli (2020). "Biodegradation and mineralization of polystyrene by plastic-eating superworms Zophobas atratus". Science of the Total Environment 708. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135233.
Wikidata ☰ Q14852976 entry
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