Wax Moth: Overview and Impact on Bee Colonies
The wax moth (scientific name: Galleria mellonella and Achroia grisella), also known as the honeycomb moth or bee hive pest, is a widespread insect belonging to the family Pyralidae. Found across China and globally, its larvae infest honeybee colonies by damaging wax combs. Mild infestations reduce honey yield and quality, while severe cases force entire bee colonies to abandon their hives. Below, we explore key aspects of this destructive pest.
I. Pronunciation and Classification
The Chinese term Galleria mellonella is phonetically pronounced as [là míng]. As a significant apicultural pest, wax moths are classified under:
– Kingdom: Animalia
– Phylum: Arthropoda
– Class: Insecta
– Order: Lepidoptera
– Family: Pyralidae
– Genus: Galleria (greater wax moth) and Achroia (lesser wax moth)
Larvae tunnel through comb wax, destroying bee brood and pupae, with G. mellonella and A. grisella being the most damaging species.
II. Life Cycle Stages
Wax moths undergo complete metamorphosis in four phases:
- Greater Wax Moth (G. mellonella):
- Egg: 8–23 days
- Larva: 27–48 days
- Pupa: 9–23 days
- Adult: 9–44 days
- Lesser Wax Moth (A. grisella):
- Egg: ~4 days
- Larva: 42–69 days
- Pupa: 7–9 days
- Adult: 4–31 days
These pests produce 2–5 generations annually, with development rates influenced by temperature and hive conditions.
III. Damage Characteristics
Wax moths primarily target Asian honeybees (Apis cerana), while European honeybees (Apis mellifera) show stronger resistance. Key impacts include:
- Weakened colonies become more vulnerable to infestation
- Reduced honey production (30–50% loss in severe cases)
- Structural damage to comb frames
- Transmission of secondary pathogens
- Colony collapse and forced migration during peak infestation periods
IV. Integrated Pest Management Strategies
1. Minor Infestation (＜10% comb damage)
- Manual removal using tweezers to extract larvae from cells
- Regular hive bottom cleaning to remove wax debris
- Enhance colony strength through supplemental feeding
2. Moderate Infestation (10–30% comb damage)
- Isolate affected combs using queen excluders
- Apply biological controls like Bacillus thuringiensis sprays
- Freeze combs at -7°C for 24 hours to kill eggs
- Destroy severely damaged combs by burning
3. Severe Infestation (＞30% comb damage)
- Complete hive replacement with sterilized equipment
- Install entrance reducers to prevent moth entry
- Use pheromone traps for adult moths
- Implement apiary-wide monitoring program
V. Prevention Techniques
- Maintain strong colonies with young, productive queens
- Store empty combs in sealed containers with paradichlorobenzene crystals
- Conduct weekly hive inspections during warm months
- Use light traps near apiaries at night