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Home > American wax moth

Photo By pbedell , used under CC-BY-SA-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original

American wax moth

Vitula edmandsii

A species of Vitula, Also known as Beehive honey moth

American wax moth lives for sweet. Larvae would feed on dry storage items that have high sugar content. Some would even break into beehives to steal honey.

General Info About American wax moth

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Attributes of American wax moth

Adult Food Sources

Flower nectar, honeydew, plant sap, ripe fruit juices, bird droppings for minerals

Larva Food Source

Corn, nuts, figs, pulses, peaches

Biting/stinging

Not reported

Allergy-causing

Not reported

Defensive attack

Not reported

Venomous

Not reported

Non-poisonous

The American wax moth is non-toxic and generally doesn't pose a risk to human health. No need for excessive worry.

Borer

The American wax moth can bore into the wood and may damage its structure, or even harm the health of trees. Stay alert if you frequently observe it in your house.

Pollinator

Not reported

Pest-Eating Predatory

Not reported

Phytophagous

The American wax moth feeds on plants, usually without causing significant harm. However, it's important to take the situation seriously if their numbers begin to increase significantly.

Predatory

Not reported

Biting animal or pet

Not reported

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Species Status of American wax moth

It is found in Germany, Denmark and Fennoscandia, as well Great Britain and eastern North America.

Distribution Area of American wax moth

Germany, Denmark, Fennoscandia

Life Cycle of American wax moth

Egg The egg stage represents the beginning of the american wax moth's life cycle. Eggs are laid in careful locations, usually on or near future food sources, and exhibit varying colors and sizes, but are generally small and inconspicuous to avoid predation.

Larva During the larval stage, the american wax moth is primarily focused on feeding and growth. It is worm-like in appearance with a soft body that may exhibit distinct patterns or colors for defense. This stage involves multiple molts as size increases.

Pupal In the pupal stage, the american wax moth undergoes significant transformation inside a cocoon or chrysalis. It is typically immobile and may blend with the environment. Tissues and organs are reorganized, leading to the development of adult structures.

Adult Emerging from the pupa, the adult american wax moth's development is marked by the presence of wings and functional reproductive organs. The body is fully formed and hardened, and the adult is mobile, focusing on reproduction.

Adult Size of American wax moth

2 - 2.5 cm

Predators of American wax moth Larvae

Birds, rodents, insectivorous mammals, reptiles, other arthropods

Scientific Classification of American wax moth

Phylum

Arthropods

Class

Bugs

Order

Moths and butterflies

Family

Pyralid moths

Genus

Vitula

Tips for Finding American wax moth

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Youth Habitat of American wax moth

Urban and Suburban Areas, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas, Rotting and Decaying Matter

Adult Habitat of American wax moth

Urban and Suburban Areas, Forests and Woodlands, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas

How Can You Attract American wax moth

Trapping american wax moth would require bait or food sources favorable to them, which typically include fermented sweet substances to attract adults.

Habitat Preferences of American wax moth Through Different Life Stages

The eggs of american wax moth are typically found on dried fruits and nuts, where the female moth prefers to lay her eggs. As larvae, they are commonly found within pantries or places where food items like grains or cereals are stored, as they are known for infesting stored products. Pupation usually occurs within the infested food material or in its immediate vicinity, forming cocoons in secluded spots nearby. Adult american wax moth moths are commonly found indoors, near potential food sources and egg-laying sites. Searching for these stages would involve inspecting food storage areas, examining packaged products, and monitoring for adult activity around potential feeding and breeding sites.

When is the Best Time to Observe American wax moth

The best time to search for american wax moth is during their active periods, which for adults could be dusk or nighttime when they are attracted to lights or bait stations.

Are American wax moth harmful?

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The larvae of american wax moth can bore into many foods. American wax moth can also damage beehives, negatively affecting apiculture.

Are American wax moth harmful to humans?

Eat dried fruit and other things. American wax moth larvae may eat all kinds of dried fruits (raisins, prunes, dried apples, etc.), candies, medicinal materials, flour, and other foods.

A pest of the beekeeping industry. In the wild, american wax moth larvae will live in honeybee nests. Both adults and larvae will feed on the pollen and honey of the hive which will reduce the output and quality of bee products. The larvae may also break wax and hurt young bees.

What is the most effective prevention against American wax moth?

Strengthen indoor and outdoor isolation. Repair the cracks in houses, close windows, and doors timely to avoid the active entry of wax moths.

Check the storage room regularly. Observe whether there are any signs of wax moth larvae and adults. Observe whether there are any cocoons or nets in the corner of the storage room and cupboards. Check whether there are unknown small holes on the packaging bag of dry grain.

Seal all dry stored food. Store all dried food in a closed container. In this way, it can not only isolate the food from being infected by foreign storage pests but also confine the pests in the container in case of purchasing the infected food and not let pests spread to other foods.

Check purchased dry stored food. Check the outer packing of the selected dry stored food before payment. If there are any unknown small holes, it is not recommended to buy the food or you can replace it.

Keep food and storeroom dry. Humidity is an important factor in the survival of storage pests. Pests breeding in wet condition is usually more serious than that in dry condition. The smell of dry stored food in wet condition is also very attractive to pests.

Keep the bee colony healthy. Strengthen the management of bee colony, give attention to supplement nutrition, and enhance the disease resistance of bee colony. Ensure that there are more bees than honeycombs so that wax moths cannot enter the nests. When the honey source decreases with the change of season, superfluous honeycombs should be taken out in time.

Replace honeycomb frequently. There shall be no wax moths in new honeycombs, but as time goes on, there will be more and more wax moths in the honeycombs. It is suggested that honeycombs should be replaced every 2 years, 1 year is much better.

Clean the beehive regularly. Seal the gaps on the surface of the beehives, so that there is no place for wax moths to lay eggs. Washing beehives with soapy water can ensure free of pests for at least one month. When changing the beehives each time, the beehives should be exposed to the hot sun for hours to kill the eggs, larvae, and pupae of wax moths. Cleaning junks at the bottom of the beehives frequently and keeping inside clean can effectively prevent the breeding of wax moths.

How to get rid of American wax moth?

Discard stored food that has insects in it. Once you find food has insects in it, pack and discard it directly without hesitation. Note that the shorter the time that food with insects stays at home, the better.

Clean the storage room thoroughly. You can wipe and clean food storage room with soap and hot water, or you can wipe it with vinegar and peppermint oil. Everywhere should be checked, the corners and lower surfaces of the cupboards, as well as the walls, floors, doors, and other storage racks.

Clean other containers. Many plastic containers and glass containers containing food in the storage room should be cleaned. It is an indispensable step.

Freeze dry stored food. Put the dry stored food in the refrigerator for 1 week, which can effectively kill the pest eggs.

Place a sticky trap. You can buy this product in stores. It can stick to a variety of storage pests.

Use a vacuum cleaner. A vacuum cleaner can effectively suck away pests and eggs which are easy to be neglected.

Keep the empty honeycombs well. It is the most rampant period for wax moths from July to October every year. Empty honeycombs should be taken out in time, exposed to the hot sun, fumigated with sulfur, and sealed for preservation.

Overwintering control. Wax moths usually live through winter in the form of larvae. At this time, all the larvae live in the honeycombs or in the gap of the beehives. You can use an alcohol lamp to bake the beehives or put the extracted honeycombs into the freezer for 5 to 7 hours to kill the larvae.

Medication control. Under urgent conditions, the use of chemicals can effectively kill the eggs and larvae of wax moths. But the chemicals can also damage the seal. The commonly used chemicals are Chloantraniliprole, Carbon disulphide, Formic acid, etc.

Harmful Effects of American wax moth

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Stored Produce Pest

American wax moth larvae feed on a variety of stored dry goods, such as grains, beans, nuts, and dried fruits, causing mild to severe damage. The adults are responsible for reproduction, spreading infestations quickly. This pest's activity can lead to reduced product quality and economic losses. Its presence also poses a health risk due to food contamination and allergens. Controlling infestations is challenging and often requires multiple strategies.

Hurt Plant

American wax moth larvae target plant fruits and seeds, chewing through tissues and potentially leading to a range of damage from mild to severe, depending on infestation levels.

More Effects of American wax moth

Beneficial Effects of American wax moth

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Pollinator

Attract Plant Feature

Color, Shape

American wax moth is a unique pollinator that is drawn to flowers primarily by their vivid colors and distinctive shapes. While feeding on pollen, they inadvertently transfer it between flowers, assisting in plant reproduction. This unwitting but vital role highlights nature’s interdependence.