Life Cycle Stages of Greater Wax Moth, Galleria mellonella (L.) [Lepidoptera:Pyralidae], in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The life cycle stages of the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L.) [Lepidoptera: Pyralidae], was studied on beeswax comb under ambient laboratory conditions of 27-29″C and 88-91 % RH. Females had an average oviposition period of 5.8 days and fecundity of 220.4 eggs, more than 50% of which were laid within the first 2 days. The mean duration of each developmental stage was: egg, 9.5 days; 1st instar, 4.3 days; 2nd ins tar, 3.9 days; 3rd instal’, 2.9 days; 4th instal’, 2.7 days; 5th instal’, 2.8 days; 6th instar, 3.4 days; 7th instar, 2.7 days; and pupa 25.4 days. The average growth rate for the larvae was 1.49. The total life cycle period averaged 57.6 days with a range from 46-69 days. The sex-ratio was 1:4 in favour of females. The average post-oviposition period was 3.1 days and longevity of adult was 10.6 days for mated females and 11.1 days for mated males. Average adult male wingspan was 27.35mm and that of the female was 34.81 mm.