What aspect of the waxworm’s diet determines its final nutritional value for reptiles or spiders?

The quality of the protein source derived from the pollen component

When waxworms are raised specifically to serve as feeder insects for captive animals like lizards or arachnids, the nutritional quality of the worm itself is paramount. This quality is not solely judged by the worm's size, which can be artificially inflated with simple sugars. Instead, the density of vital nutrients, particularly the necessary lipid profile, is directly tied to the quality of the protein component ingested during the larval stage. Since pollen is the natural source of protein and lipids in the bee hive, a worm raised on a diet that successfully replicates the full spectrum including high-quality pollen derivatives will be nutritionally dense, efficiently transferring those vital fatty acids to the predator.