Feeder-insect
Guides
Blaberus discoidalis
discoid cockroach, tropical cockroach, West Indian leaf cockroach, false death's head cockroach, Haitian cockroach, drummer
Blaberus discoidalis is a large cockroach in the family Blaberidae, native to Central America and the Caribbean. Adults measure 35–45 mm and are tan with a distinctive dark brown to black pronotal patch that resembles the death's head marking of Blaberus craniifer, hence the common name "false death's head cockroach." The species is gregarious and has been extensively studied in laboratory settings for its locomotion, sensory processing, and social behavior. It is widely used as feeder insects for captive reptiles and amphibians due to its ease of rearing and nutritional profile.
Drosophila hydei
Hydei Fruit Fly
Drosophila hydei is a vinegar fly in the family Drosophilidae, notable for possessing the largest recorded sperm of any Drosophila species at approximately 23 mm—over ten times the male body length. It is a member of the hydei species subgroup within the repleta species group. The species is widely used as a feeder insect in the pet trade and has contributed significantly to invertebrate genetics research through the Minos transposon, which has been developed into a versatile genetic tool for gene disruption across diverse arthropod genomes.
Gryllus assimilis
Jamaican field cricket, silent cricket (misnomer)
Gryllus assimilis, the Jamaican field cricket, is a field cricket species native to the West Indies, southern United States, Mexico, and parts of South America. It is distinguished from similar species primarily by its song: a short, pulsed chirp with rapid pulse rate and brief intervals between pulses, creating a nearly continuous sound. Since 2010, it has become widely bred as a feeder insect for the pet industry throughout North America and Europe, largely replacing the house cricket (Acheta domesticus) after that species was devastated by cricket paralysis virus. The species is notable for its immunity to this virus, its relatively docile behavior compared to some other Gryllus species used in the pet trade, and its status as a USDA-approved native species for commercial sale in the United States.
Tenebrio obscurus
Dark Mealworm, Mini Mealworm
Tenebrio obscurus, commonly known as the dark mealworm or mini mealworm, is a darkling beetle species whose larvae are smaller than those of the closely related yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor). Adults are small, black to dull brown beetles measuring 12–18 mm. The species is a pest of stored grain products and has been studied for its ability to biodegrade polystyrene waste. Larvae are commercially used as feeder insects for reptiles, amphibians, birds, and zoo animals.
Tenebrioninae
darkling beetles (subfamily)
Tenebrioninae is the largest subfamily of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae), containing more than 20 tribes and including economically significant species such as flour beetles (Tribolium spp.) and the yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor). Following a major 2021 taxonomic revision, approximately half of the former species diversity was moved to the resurrected subfamily Blaptinae. The subfamily includes both stored-product pests and species used as feeder insects for reptiles and amphibians.
Zophobas
blind click-beetles
Zophobas is a genus of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) native to the Americas. The genus contains several species, with Zophobas morio (also known as Z. atratus) being the most widely recognized due to its commercial importance. Larvae of this species, commonly called "superworms," are larger and more nutritious than yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) and are extensively used as feeder insects for reptiles, birds, and other pets. Research has demonstrated that Z. morio larvae can degrade polystyrene and other plastics through gut microbiome activity, with potential applications in waste management and as a protein source for animal feed and human consumption.