3:00 snapshot #1621: Tuesday

[urbpan]

Waxworms are moth caterpillars that, in nature, develop in the hives of honeybees, feeding on the wax and other products therein. Because they spend their larva lives in the dark of the hive, they are colorless and maggot-like.

They happen to be very hardy caterpillars that will survive a relatively long time if kept at a low temperature--say, in a refrigerator. This has contributed to them being incorporated into the captive insect food industry. These are intended for cotton-top tamarins, which are tiny monkeys. They are likewise fed to captive birds and reptiles. They are also perfectly good food for humans, and if you read the book "Edible" by Daniella Martin, you will find a simple recipe for preparing them. (No, I haven't tried them yet.)

Comments

[ruthling.livejournal.com]

they look kind of like the worst kind of badly cooked crinkle fries

[calypso72]

We used to feed waxworms as a treat to Sadie's bearded dragon. I never knew what they actually were.

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

I occasionally feed them to my beardie, but he seems to like silkworms & hornworms better.