Greater Wax Moth

Causative Agent: Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae)

Range: Worldwide

Life cycle:

• No stage can survive freezing temperatures
• Adult moths fly to hives and lay eggs in crevices
• The eggs hatch and the larvae burrow through the comb uncapping the honey and causing it to leak. Additionally the larvae lay silk as they burrow contaminating the honey

Management:

• Rarely a problem in colder climates until July and August.
• Healthy colonies are able to fend off this pest

Misconceptions:

Other Useful Sites: http://www.ento.psu.edu/MAAREC/pdfs/Wax_Moth_pm.pdf

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/scripts/htmlgen.exe?DOCUMENT_AA141

References used:

Root, A. I. (1990) The ABC & XYZ of bee culture 40 th ed. A.I Root Co. Medina, OH.

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