Crickets just arrived through the mail

[RaisingCajun]

A couple days ago I ordered my first batch of crickets online. I ordered them from Fluker Farms. They came in quick and alive.

Question is: they were packaged with some small black worms. Does anyone have an idea what kind they could be or why they were with the crickets?

If needed, I might be able to take a picture and post but the worms are pretty small. They are only about 1/4" long.

 

[patrickb]

Little furry black worms? They are the larvae of Dermestid beetles which eat decaying animal matter mostly. They feed on the dead cricket bodies and shed skins. Some consider them clean up bugs, some consider them pests. They are quite common in shipments of crickets though. Pop em in a container and freeze them overnight, then dispose of in the trash to keep from introducing into your area. They are probably present in your area, but you can never be certain of the particular species and safe habits are always best when dealing with introductions to the local environment.

 

[RaisingCajun]

Right now the worms are in the cage with the crickets. Should I take them out?

 

[beardsmith]

I think I ended up with the same thing in my last order of crickets.
Here is a pic.

Someone on this forum said it is a cleaner bug and to get rid of it. I also had beetles that look like this in my cricket order (I ordered mealworms too)

It may look like a darkling beetle, but read below:

I got rid of the fuzzy worms I received with my crickets, then...

I found another beetle, so now have 3 of them. Thinking they were the darkling beetle, I placed them in a container with food/substrate and moisure, and let them do their thing. In just a short time I started seeing very tiny little worms. Yay! I think I have mealworms!

Nope! Not mealworms. :? After a couple of weeks, they were big enough to see detail, and they are the little fuzzy worms!....Meanwhile, two of my mealworm aliens turn into beetles, which are very similar to the first beetle I had, but longer, and not quite as dark. :idea:

Does anyone know if the little fuzzy worms can be used as feeders? They reproduce very quickly, just don't know if they are good for beardies or geckos.