Importance of the Chaetotaxy in Larval Identification of Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) along with some Notes on its Life History

Abstract

Earlier studies on identification of Galleria mellonella emphasized mainly on characterization of wing venation and maculation, larval or pupal morphology and other taxonomic characters such as male and female genitalia. The larval identification and diagnostic characters of pest species can best be strengthen through diagnosis of the setal arrangement and position of punctures present of different larval body segments. The cephalic region and all the bodily segments such as thoracic, abdominal etc of the last instar larva of Greater waxmoth, Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus) belonging to family (Pyralidae) have been examined along with some biological aspects.