SludgeMunkey
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- Nov 11, 2008
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- Location
- Bellevue, Nebraska
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- United States
- Display Name
- Johnny O. Farnen
Where I've been around the US, I've found "waxworms" can be quite different species. The worst example being mealworm pupae sold as "waxworms". Actually, I think some of the confusion may have been rectified thanks to the Internet.
UPDATE!
I got word back from various wax worm suppliers and have found what Pete says to be painfully true.
Of 14 different USA companies that supply them and bothered to reply to my queries:
9 had no idea which species they were selling
3 gave scientific names for completely different species, each giving a different name, two of these gave scientific names for small mammals!
1 has both species depending on the time of year
1 confirmed they are selling Galleria mellonella
Of the nine that had no clue, 5 noted they get theirs from the other 5 suppliers on the list! (I did not inquire as to sources, some companies get a little angry when you ask such things...)
Also: The instructions for Phoenix worms state to add a few drops of water to the packing media if it dries out. For a 100 count size container, 3ml is too much water and will drown your Phoenix worms. I found this out the hard way this morning.
I have yet to hear back from the phoenix worm company as to why they call them phoenix worms...I will bother them again shortly.
I found this article on rearing wax worms I am going to try out both their media types and report back later in a new thread...