All About Wax Worms

If you have pet reptiles, you have likely heard of Wax worms. Wax worms, although they are commonly known as high fat feeders for your pets, are actually considered a pest in most of the world. Wax worms can be found almost everywhere in the world and they are known to infest bee hives. They get their name from their ability to eat beeswax and wax worms can be extremely destructive to a beehive. They eat through all of the wax, the combs and then eventually the wood surrounding the hive. So, while the majority of people are trying to get rid of wax worms, some of us are trying to find them and possibly even breed them as snacks for our pets!

Wax worms are the larvae of the greater wax moth. They have four main stages of their life cycle including egg, larva (wax worm), pupa and adult (moth). Although they are called worms, wax worms are actually more like caterpillars. They are small white bugs with a segmented body and three sets of legs. Wax worms are softer and easier to digest than a lot of other feeder insects which makes them ideal for young pets or animals that have a hard time digesting a harder exoskeleton. Wax worms will remain in their larval stage for a period of time depending on the temperatures that they are exposed to. In cooler temperatures, they can remain worms for as long as 5 months while at warmer temps, they may start to transition in as little as 20 days. When they are ready to transition, they will make a cocoon out of silk. It typically takes them 2-3 days to construct their cocoon. The pupa will be whitish yellow inside the cocoon and then darken to a more brown color. In warmer temps, they can hatch in 4 to 8 days while cooler temps will cause them to take up to 2 months. They will emerge from their cocoon as a small moth. The moths will only live a maximum of 21 days depending on their sex. Females will not live as long as the males. Neither the males or females eat during this period and instead they give all their energy to mating and having babies. The moths will then lay eggs right after mating and depending on the temperature, they can lay 300-600 eggs over a course of about 5 days. At higher temps, the eggs will hatch in 3 to 5 days. At lower temps, it may take up to 35 days.

Wax worms are very high in water as well as fat. They contain about 58% moisture and around 25% fat. They also contain calcium, protein and phosphorus. They have nutritional value for your pet but due to their high fat content, they should not be fed regularly. Wax worms should be fed only as occasional treats. Feeding your pets wax worms too frequently can lead to unwanted weight gain and obesity. On the other hand, wax worms can be helpful in putting weight on an animal that may be underweight.

In order to keep your wax worms alive the longest, it is important to keep them cool. They do best at temperatures between 55 and 60 degrees fahrenheit. At these temps, they will last several weeks before pupating. Wax worms do not need to be fed as they live off of fat stored in their bodies. To avoid excess moisture and smell, it is important to remove any dead wax worms every day. Other than that, they don’t require any care and are a very easy feeder to keep.

Wax worms are a great treat for your pets that allow for different flavors and textures and allow your pet to have more variety in their diets. Most pets cannot resist a delicious wax worm! They are also easy to find and inexpensive to buy. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions about wax worms or any other bugs that you find on our website!