Back Groot wasmot Afrikaans جاليريا ميلونيلا ARZ Galleria mellonella AST Агнёўка вялікая васковая Byelorussian Galleria mellonella Catalan Galleria mellonella CEB Zavíječ voskový Czech Große Wachsmotte German Galleria mellonella Spanish Vahaleedik Estonian
| Galleria mellonella | |
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| Adult | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Pyralidae |
| Subfamily: | Galleriinae |
| Genus: | Galleria Fabricius, 1798 |
| Species: | G. mellonella
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| Binomial name | |
| Galleria mellonella | |
| Synonyms | |
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Numerous, see text | |
Galleria mellonella, the greater wax moth or honeycomb moth, is a moth of the family Pyralidae. G. mellonella is found throughout the world.[1] It is one of two species of wax moths, with the other being the lesser wax moth. G. mellonella eggs are laid in the spring, and they have four life stages. Males are able to generate ultrasonic sound pulses, which, along with pheromones, are used in mating. The larvae of G. mellonella are also often used as a model organism in research.
The greater wax moth is well known for its parasitization of honeybees and their hives.[1][2] Because of the economic loss caused by this species, several control methods including heat treatment and chemical fumigants such as carbon dioxide have been used.[3]
The caterpillar of G. mellonella has attracted interest for its ability to degrade polyethylene plastic.
- ^ a b Young, Reginald (2024). "Improved, reference quality genome sequence of the plastic-degrading greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella". academic.oup.com. doi:10.1093/g3journal/jkae070.
- ^ Paddock, Floyd B. (1918). The Beemoth or Waxworm. Texas Agricultural Experiment Stations.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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