T. KAVITHA*, C. KATHIRVELU, N. MUTHUKRISHNAN AND L. GOPIANAND
Lepidoptera Research Laboratory, Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University,
Annamalainagar-608 002 (Tamil Nadu), India
*(e-mail : Kavithavel1317@gmail.com; Mobile : 8825860662)
(Received : February 7, 2022; Accepted : March 7, 2022)
ABSTRACT
For the management of greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella L.), the experiment was carried out during
2019-20 under different conditions. In the morphometry of wax moth, the size of the egg was 0.38±0.03
mm and the early instar size was 3.96±0.20 mm. The fifth instar size was noticed as 26.70±0.42 mm and
the sizes of the pre-pupal stage and pupal stage were recorded as 25.5±0.59 and 13.12±0.47 mm,
respectively. Adult male moths were smaller than females. The male and female adult moth size was
10.98±0.49 and 13.84±0.35 mm, respectively. The average fecundity and incubation period were 140.21
eggs and 10.80 days, respectively. The mean larval and pupal period was 19.73 and 29.08 days, respectively.
The mean developmental period and the longevity of wax moth were 59.28 and 11.34 days, respectively.
During the period of study, fecundity, incubation period, larval period, pupal period and adult longevity
showed considerable variation under room temperature with excess food (187 eggs, 5.87, 18.15, 12.21
and 13.66 days), with adequate food (125.66 eggs, 13.20, 16.75, 34.52 and 10.50 days) and with inadequate
food (107.96 eggs, 13.32, 24.30, 40.52 and 9.87 days), respectively.
Key words : Bee enemy, bionomics, greater wax moth, honeybee