The Wax Moth Pheromone, Moth Influence, and Associated Glands

Abstract

The wax moth male secretes various pheromones to attract the female for mating. The volatiles induce species-specific influence, which modulates the behaviour of other members of the same species. The primary pheromones include nonanal and undecanal, hexanal, heptanal, octanal, decanal, undecanol, and 6, 10, 14 - trimethylpentadecanon-2. The specific chemicals are secreted by a pair of glands on the forewings of the male moth in the greater and lesser wax moth. These volatiles are essential for the adult stage and plays a critical role in larval and pupal aggregation. The specific chapter elaborates on the chemical composition of the pheromones, their influence on the conspecific individuals, and their role in modulating the mating behaviour, in the case of the greater wax moth (GWM) and the lesser wax moth (LWM).

Keywords: The Wax Moth Pheromone, Wax Moth Behaviour Change, Wax Moth Glands, Galleria mellonella.

Cite as