<P> In the wild , they live as nest parasites in bee colonies and eat cocoons , pollen , and shed skins of bees , and chew through beeswax , thus the name . Beekeepers consider waxworms to be pests . Galleria mellonella ( the greater wax moths ) will not attack the bees directly , but feed on the wax used by the bees to build their honeycomb . Their full development to adults requires access to used brood comb or brood cell cleanings -- these contain protein essential for the larvae 's development , in the form of brood cocoons . The destruction of the comb will spill or contaminate stored honey and may kill bee larvae or be the cause of the spreading of honey bee diseases . </P>
<P> In the wild , they live as nest parasites in bee colonies and eat cocoons , pollen , and shed skins of bees , and chew through beeswax , thus the name . Beekeepers consider waxworms to be pests . Galleria mellonella ( the greater wax moths ) will not attack the bees directly , but feed on the wax used by the bees to build their honeycomb . Their full development to adults requires access to used brood comb or brood cell cleanings -- these contain protein essential for the larvae 's development , in the form of brood cocoons . The destruction of the comb will spill or contaminate stored honey and may kill bee larvae or be the cause of the spreading of honey bee diseases . </P>
where do wax worms live in the wild
where do wax worms live in the wild
as nest parasites in bee colonies
as nest parasites in bee colonies