NutriGrub (sold as pet food), specifically the larva of the Wax Moth
Scientific Name: Galleria mellonella
Order & Family: Lepidoptera, Pyralidae
Size: Typically 1 to 2 centimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) in length.
Natural Habitat
Found globally in beehives or honeycomb wax, as well as in commercial rearing facilities for pet food.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds on beeswax, honey, and pollen. They are also known to consume various plastic polymers (polyethylene) in laboratory settings.
Behavior Patterns
They are social within hives and burrow through honeycomb, leaving silk trails and damaging hives. They undergo complete metamorphosis: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (cocoon), and adult (moth).
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Serious pest to the beekeeping industry by destroying honeycombs. Benefits: Highly nutritious feeders for reptiles and birds; biologically significant for their ability to biodegrade plastic waste.
Identified on: 4/14/2026