Waxworm Notes

I plan to use waxworms (Galleria mellonella) in future experiments with P. larvae including, but not limited to, LC50 determination. Below are some notes related to waxworms and waxworm in vitro rearing recovered from the internet (online) and Ben M. notes. Ben M. was the undergraduate who previously reared waxworms for the Fisher Lab (Bug Man).

Places to buy waxworms online: www.wormman.com/cat_wax.cfm. Or Ebay.

Eggs hatch around 4-6 days

Larva mature around 6-7 weeks (highly influenced by temperature
-mature larva will crawl (wander) to top of container

Sick or dead waxworms will turn black (do not confuse with "burnt" colored waxworms which are pupating)

Moths emerge about 1-2 weeks after pupation begins

WAXWORM LIFE CYCLE

Total life cycle: 57.6 days (46-69 days)

Egg - 9.5 days

1st instar - 4.3 days

2nd instar - 3.9 days

3rd instar - 2.9 days

4th instar - 2.7 days

5th instar - 2.8 days

6th instar (18 mm)- 3.4 days

7th instar - 2.7 days

Pupa (12 mm)- 25.4 days 

Moth

Received two small containers of mature waxworms from Dr. Fisher. Containers were transferred to plastic 0.5 L media bottles with three small holes punched into the covers. One of the containers were incubated at 35C (bee incubator) and another at 30C in the walk in incubator.

I will continue to monitor them for pupation. Once they pupate into moths they will lay eggs and I plan to harvest them.

//EWW