Lifecycle of Greater Wax Moth <i>Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)</i> and Its Control by Natural Products

The great wax moth (Galleria mellonella) is a major pest that affects honeybee colonies, causing serious damage to the honeycomb and disrupting beekeeping operations. This paper aims to review the life cycle of this insect and the natural control strategies used to manage its populations. This paper examines the different stages of growth of the great wax moth, including the stages of eggs, larva, pupae, and adults. The life cycle of this insect depends largely on environmental conditions, especially temperature, humidity and food quality, in addition, this paper focuses on natural control strategies, such as the use of plant extracts and propolis, and the results of these studies indicate that the extract of the peel of the Plantago psyllium plant It was the most effective, as it achieved a larval mortality rate of 93%, and it was found that the alcoholic extract of propolis at a concentration of 3% led to a larval mortality rate of 89.34%, while it was found that the aqueous extract of the mint plant leads to the death of larvae by 87.5%, and the results of these studies showed that caraway, cumin, neem, eucalyptus and pepper oils were effective in repelling the great wax worm, this review provides valuable studies on how to manage the major wax worm with natural, safe and environmentally friendly alternatives, which contributes to the protection of hives, and promotes sustainability in bee health and honey production. This is achieved by reducing reliance on harmful chemical pesticides, which protects bee health and reduces environmental risks. This approach can lead to improved bee productivity and product quality, contributing to the sustainability of agricultural ecosystems.