The Caterpillars of this moth are an international pest in beehives, tunneling through the combs feeding on pollen, wax and honey. Their preference is for abandoned hives, or hives where the colony is has been weakened.

The Caterpillars are a pale honey colour with a brown head. They are used to study insect physiology, and they make excellent bait for fishing. They are often used for the study of Nematodes.

cocoon
(Photo: courtesy of Dr. Toru Shimada, Tokyo University)

The Caterpillars make white cocoons in the hive, which shield the orange pupa.

pupa
(Photo: courtesy of The BioZentrum, University of Wurzberg)

The adult moth is brown with faint light and dark markings. It has a wing span of about 3 cms.

(Photo: courtesy of Dr. Toru Shimada, Tokyo University)

The female moth often lays over 1,000 eggs, usually in batches of about 100. They are laid in cracks or corners. The eggs are also a pale honey colour, oval, and about 0.5 mm across. They are well camouflaged and easily overlooked.

Attempts are being made to control the pest by :

introduced by unfortunate accident into Australia.

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Further reading :

Ian F.B. Common,
Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, pp. 47, 68, 347.

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