Wax worms??

[Khenut]

So I occasionally feed Wax worms as treats to my geckos... And as with most of my bugs, some tend to pupate after I leave them in the food dish for a couple days. It was my impression that wax worms were the grub stage of a wax moth. But after letting several of them 'hatch' from their little carapace, they appear to become black beetles. Like the ones you would generally see a mealworm hatch into. Did I just uncover some sort of conspiracy? Lol

 

[Geckomaster743]

Im not sure Khenut. I think they may be in a grubby form... Im honestly confused because i only used Wax worms for my sick gecko nothing else.

 

[Styx]

You have something that is other than a wax worm then.

Waxies are indeed the larval stage of a moth. I have had hundreds of wax worms pupate for me and they've all turned into moths because that's what they are. I usually allow mine to pupate because my L. Williamsi love to catch and eat the little moths.

 

[Khenut]

That is bizarre. I buy wax worms from Petco/Petsmart, and the last few bunches have been beetles. So weird.

 

[Geckomaster743]

So..... Were not being Sold Waxworms.... Then what are we being sold?

 

[Khenut]

Exactly what I'm wondering. :I

 

[Styx]

Personally... I'd be ticked off about it if I was indeed sold something as a waxworm that was something else. Can you get photos of the larva and the beetles? Maybe e-mail the company and ask if the larva they are selling are actually Achroia grisella or Galleria mellonella.

 

[Khenut]

Yeah, that's a good idea. I'm going to let a few more hatch out, as the others were looking sad and I let them go last night because I felt sorry for them. Lol

 

[Geckomaster743]

Yeah, that's a good idea. I'm going to let a few more hatch out, as the others were looking sad and I let them go last night because I felt sorry for them. Lol

Im always feeling Sad for my insects before i feed them to my lizards I dunno they look so helpless before i send them to die. Any way who do you buy mealworms from?

 

[Khenut]

Same place. Petco/Petsmart.

 

[Josh2]

I wonder if we ask a company like Ghann's farms to send out demos, if they would. Yknow, something to find out what your animals will and will not eat before spending a bunch of money on a huge order...

 

[Amanda1]

Great idea! Like an insect variety pack...

 

[Caleb C]

They would probably tell you to buy a small quantity, lol. I think that petco/petsmart buys most of their feeders from timberline, or at least my petco does. If you're sure what you have are waxworms, you can contact them.