Parasitic worms in my darkling beetle?

[LiminalBrain]

Hi. First time posting on here. I’ve identified what might be parasitic worms in one of my darkling beetles. This individual had just come out of its pupa today. When I was checking in on how the molt was going, I noticed his right elytra was completely messed up. That’s when I noticed two worm-like organisms emerging from its body. Also, for some reason, the two worms were completely still; they didn’t move at all, which leads me to think that maybe they’re dead? But I don’t know.

This is the first time I have encountered this. I tried to get some pictures, but I apologize for the quality. It’s the best I could do with my crappy iPhone camera.

The presence of these things is very disconcerting to me. I’ve put quite a bit of work into my superworm colony, and I’m worried I’ll have to freeze em’ all. Not to mention, I also have a large dubia colony housed near to the superworms in the same room, and those guys are my pride and joy. I’m concerned that these worms could possibly infect the roaches as well, though I haven’t seen any signs of infection.

Does anyone know what these are and what I should do about them?

 

[fcat]

Are you able to photo the other end of the worm? Anything that looks like it could be a mouth?

 

[LiminalBrain]

Actually, I think I figured it out. They’ve got to be baby supers, right? They kind of look like it, and if the end I photographed under the microscope is in fact not the head and is the abdomen like fcat suggested, then the worms are boring into the beetle from without, not the other way around, which tracks.

 

[Wolfram1]

could this be a spermatophore of the darkling beatle?

did it move???

 

[LiminalBrain]

Are you able to photo the other end of the worm? Anything that looks like it could be a mouth?

Here’s a pic of the other end. Unfortunately, I can’t really make anything out since it’s covered in this crusty black stuff. I’m pretty sure the black stuff is leftover carnage from the beetle’s leg that it was attached to.

 

[LiminalBrain]

could this be a spermatophore of the darkling beatle?

did it move???

I don’t think so. The two “worms” were attached to and protruding from the beetle’s legs and feet, specifically - at least they were at the time I observed them. They were not coming out of its abdomen. They also seem to have distinct brown, worm-like coloration, as opposed to the usual inky white of spermatophores.

No, neither of the worms moved. They seem to be as dead as doornails for some reason.

 

[Wolfram1]

a friend of mine mentioned they look similar to the sermatophore he had seen from another kind of darkling beetle

the males attach them for the females to pick up and the "heads" are shaped to fit the females genitalia, they could be attached anywhere really

that said its just a guess, perhaps you could try compare it with the speratophore this species lays?

the brown colour could come from drying out perhaps?

 

[LiminalBrain]

a friend of mine mentioned they look similar to the sermatophore he had seen from another kind of darkling beetle

the males attach them for the females to pick up and the "heads" are shaped to fit the females genitalia, they could be attached anywhere really

that said its just a guess, perhaps you could try compare it with the speratophore this species lays?

the brown colour could come from drying out perhaps?

Huh, interesting. I don’t know what this species’ spermatophore looks like, and I tried looking it up and I couldn’t find anything either. So I can’t say for sure since I don’t really have anything to compare it to, but I’ll definitely keep that in mind.

 

[fcat]

Here’s a pic of the other end. Unfortunately, I can’t really make anything out since it’s covered in this crusty black stuff. I’m pretty sure the black stuff is leftover carnage from the beetle’s leg that it was attached to.

View attachment 487565

While comparing larvae commonly found in many homes (like fungus gnats or phorid flies) it was easy to make out mouthparts and the end of the digestive tract. Granted there are worms without and I'm not versed with dichotomous keys but maybe it would be a start. It either doesn't have a digestive system or it's not living (my super uneducated guess)

 

[Charliemum]

This might sound stupid but could the damage not be off another beetle? I have seen males beetles that have ripped the others shell or leg off when fighting over a female or just fighting. It looks to me like the worm is its chewed up leg too, the end with the black stuff looks like the shoulder joint with dried meat on as it were and the head end looks like the feet all chewed up. Could be that this beetle was battling or ill so the others swarmed it. I have seen both in my colonys before.
Dark beetles are ruthless.
I doubt it will be a worm or parasite unless your little dudes are wc. Farm raised are usually a few gens in so usually don't have hitchhikers by that time or won't have from a reliable source.

 

[LiminalBrain]

This might sound stupid but could the damage not be off another beetle? I have seen males beetles that have ripped the others shell or leg off when fighting over a female or just fighting. It looks to me like the worm is its chewed up leg too, the end with the black stuff looks like the shoulder joint with dried meat on as it were and the head end looks like the feet all chewed up. Could be that this beetle was battling or ill so the others swarmed it. I have seen both in my colonys before.
Dark beetles are ruthless.
I doubt it will be a worm or parasite unless your little dudes are wc. Farm raised are usually a few gens in so usually don't have hitchhikers by that time or won't have from a reliable source.

It is possible. The dude pictured was only with one other adult beetle. I keep the pupae separate from the colony for this very reason. The other beetle he was with was newly emerged as well and was still hardening up (you know how their exoskeletons are kind of reddish during that process), so I’m not sure if he would’ve had the strength to go after anything yet, but it is a possibility. I’m still pretty new to superworm breeding.

 

[LiminalBrain]

While comparing larvae commonly found in many homes (like fungus gnats or phorid flies) it was easy to make out mouthparts and the end of the digestive tract. Granted there are worms without and I'm not versed with dichotomous keys but maybe it would be a start. It either doesn't have a digestive system or it's not living (my super uneducated guess)

Interesting. That makes sense. Well, it seems like what I’m hearing is that although no one can say with absolute certainty what it is, there’s very little chance that this is parasitic in nature. It’s probably just some strange abnormality from circumstances, which is very comforting.