Wax Moth
Galleria mellonella
This record describes Galleria mellonella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 29 to 40 mm. The males of this species have a distinctively concave outer edge to the forewing; the females are generally plainer in appearance with a less concave edge. Flying between June and October, the adults can be attracted to light. The name 'Wax Moth' refers to the moth's lifestyle - it lives in beehives, where the larvae feed on the honeycomb. Formerly local and infrequent in Britain, but has become much more common of late. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Galleria mellonella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galleria mellonella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Galleriinae
- Tribe
- Galleriini
- Genus
- Galleria (Greater Wax Moth)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Around bee hives.
Seasonal Activity
Flying between June and October, the adults can be attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The name 'Wax Moth' refers to the moth's lifestyle - it lives in beehives, where the larvae feed on the honeycomb.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Formerly local and infrequent in Britain, but has become much more common of late. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Galleria mellonella. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Wax Moth (7)
Frequently Asked Questions About Wax Moth
What is Wax Moth?
Wax Moth (Galleria mellonella) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Wax Moth found?
Habitat: Around bee hives.
When is Wax Moth active?
Wax Moth: seasonal activity - Flying between June and October, the adults can be attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Wax Moth?
The name 'Wax Moth' refers to the moth's lifestyle - it lives in beehives, where the larvae feed on the honeycomb.