Pet-food
Guides
Acheta domesticus
House Cricket, European House Cricket
Acheta domesticus, the house cricket, is a widely distributed cricket species likely native to Southwestern Asia but now found globally through human commerce. The species has been kept in captivity since at least the 1700s and is considered highly domesticated. It serves as the primary cricket species in the global pet food industry, raised as feed for reptiles, amphibians, birds, and arthropods. The species has been severely impacted by Acheta domesticus Densovirus (AdDNV), a highly virulent and environmentally resistant pathogen that has caused widespread mortality in commercial breeding facilities and driven industry shifts toward alternative cricket species.
Gryllodes
decorated crickets, tropical house crickets
Gryllodes is a genus of crickets in the family Gryllidae, tribe Modicogryllini. The genus contains at least three described species, with Gryllodes sigillatus being the most widely known and economically significant. This species, commonly called the tropical house cricket or decorated cricket, has a cosmopolitan distribution associated with human habitation and is extensively cultured for pet food and human consumption. The genus is notable for its specialized mating behavior involving nuptial gifts.
Shelfordella
Turkestan cockroach, red runner cockroach, rusty red cockroach
Shelfordella is a genus of cockroaches in the family Blattidae, with Shelfordella lateralis being the most widely documented species. The genus is native to regions from northern Africa through Central Asia. S. lateralis has become an established invasive species in North America since 1978, particularly in California and Texas, where it has displaced the oriental cockroach in many areas. The species is primarily outdoor-dwelling but occasionally enters structures through sewers and drains.
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.