The wax moth (WM) is a holometabolous insect with developmental stages
of egg, larva, pupa, and adult in its life cycle. The development coherence of the wax
moth is influenced by different abiotic and biotic environmental cues, including the
larval diet, temperature, cannibalism, genomic content, insect hormones, and
pheromones. The fecundity and fertility are comparatively high in WM to ensure
species' survival within the honey bee hive. The wax moth adults preferentially infest
the weaker colonies at night, where they live in the concealed space, usually on the top
bar of the wooden chamber. Mating usually takes place on nearby trees; after that, the
gravid female enters the hive to oviposit in the crevices and cracks to hide from the
host honey bees. Afterward, the eggs hatch into the larva that feeds on the bee wax,
honey, pollen, and exuviate of the honey bees. Severe localised concealing sites of WM
in the hive facilitate specific pest protection in the host honey bee colony, eventually
destroying the entire hive and forcing the honey bees to abscond the hive. The present
chapter elucidates the development of a specific devastating pest of honey bee colonies,
including influential abiotic and biotic factors. Furthermore, the differentiation of the
life cycles of the greater wax moth (GWM) and the lesser wax moth (LWM) is also
speculated in detail as per available literature.
Keywords: Words: Galleria mellonella, Honey Bee Colony, Wax Moth Development, Wax Moth Growth Influencing Factors.
