superworms

Noun

superworm (plural superworms)

1. The larva of the beetle Zophobas atratus, common in the pet industry as a food source for reptiles, amphibians, etc.
   • To find out, Dr. Rinke and his colleagues grew three groups of superworms in the lab. One group ate bran, one ate blocks of polystyrene and the third ate nothing. (The experiments were temporarily halted by hungry superworms’ tendency to turn cannibal; giving each unfed superworm its own private...2022 October 6, Veronique Greenwood, “How Superworms Make Styrofoam Into a Healthy Meal”, in The New York Times

   Synonyms:

   kingworm, barley worm, morio worm