Biomics

In this article is given a literary review of biological features of stages of the great wax moth (Galleria mellonella L.). According to the observations of researchers the duration of the egg stage 7 to 9 days. The female lays eggs in the cracks, recesses of the walls and ceiling of the hive, frames or cell cells, at the bottom of the hive, eggs are rarely found on the open surface. S. D. Beck (1960) found that larvae reach their maximum average weight in 15 days after hatching. In larvae there are seven age stages, differentiated by the width of the head capsule. The average weight of pupae reaches 188-212 mg in females, 125-138 mg in males. In the natural habitat, imago leaves cocoons in the morning between 6 and 11 hours, but more often – in the evening about 17 hours. Differences of adult in morphology and color of wings, anatomical structure of the oral apparatus are given. Depending on the habitat conditions, the lifespan of the adult varies from 3 to 30 days or more. In this case, males live longer. Fertilized females begin to lay eggs 24 hours after mating. It should be noted that in the literature the study of biological features of the life cycle of G. mellonella is reflected in detail, focusing on the study of larval development. The life cycle of G. mellonella strongly depends on abiotic factors, which is the limiting factor for its development. At the same time, the life cycle in natural conditions is adapted to the conditions of the hive and during the summer-spring period G. mellonella can give 2-4 generations per year.

egg, larva, pupa, imago, Galleria mellonella, development time, egg incubation period, larva age

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