Zophobas

{{Short description|Genus of beetles}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| image = Zophobas morio.jpg

| image_caption = Zophobas atratus

| taxon = Zophobas

| authority = Blanchard, 1845

| subdivision_ranks = Species

| subdivision = See text

}}

Zophobas is a genus of beetles in the family Tenebrionidae, the darkling beetles. They occur in the Americas, from the Neotropics into southernmost United States. In Cuba beetles of this genus are known as blind click-beetles.Garrido, O. H. and E. Gutierrez. (1994). [http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1283&context=insectamundi Variability of Zophobas rugipes Kirsch (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Tenebrioninii) in Cuba.] Insecta Mundi. 8(3-4). Paper 284.

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{{cite journal | last1 = Rumbos | first1 = C I | last2 = Athanassiou | first2 = C G | title = The superworm, Zophobas morio (Coleoptera:Tenebrionidae): A ‘Sleeping Giant’ in nutrient sources | journal = Journal of Insect Science | date = 1 March 2021 | volume = 21 | issue = 2 | eissn = 1536-2442 | doi = 10.1093/jisesa/ieab014 | pmid = 33834209 | pmc = 8033247 | url = }} such as lizards. The larvae are known commonly as "superworms".[http://www.cambridgebutterfly.com/home-18/35-website-content/butterfly-conservatory/345-zophobas-morio Darkling Beetle and Larva, Zophobas morio.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225214225/http://www.cambridgebutterfly.com/home-18/35-website-content/butterfly-conservatory/345-zophobas-morio |date=2016-12-25 }} Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory.

Superworms should not be confused with darkling beetle mealworms sprayed with juvenile hormone.{{cite journal |last1=Ichikawa |first1=Toshio |last2=Sakamoto |first2=Hirofumi |title=A third type of defensive behavior in the tenebrionid beetle Zophobas atratus pupae |journal=Journal of Insect Science |date=2013 |volume=13 |issue=33 |pages=1–12 |doi=10.1673/031.013.3301 |doi-access=free |pmc=3735109 }} 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.{{cite journal |last1=Tschinkel |first1=Walter R. |title=Larval dispersal and cannibalism in a natural population of Zophobas atratus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) |journal=Animal Behaviour |date=1981 |volume=29 |issue=4 |pages=990–996 |doi=10.1016/S0003-3472(81)80052-8}} Researchers have discovered that the larvae can subsist on a diet solely of polystyrene (Styrofoam).{{cite journal |last1=Yang |first1=Yu |last2=Wang |first2=Jialei |last3=Xia |first3=Mengli |title=Biodegradation and mineralization of polystyrene by plastic-eating superworms Zophobas atratus |journal=Science of the Total Environment |date=2020 |volume=708 |page=135233 |doi=10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135233}}