Galleria mellonella: A Moth Ally of Science and the Planet

Galleria mellonella , known by most people as the greater wax moth, is an invertebrate animal (one without a backbone). Its life cycle consists of four stages: egg, larva, pre-pupa/pupa and adult moth. In nature, these larvae inhabit bee hives, so they are commonly considered a pest of honeybee colonies. Despite that, they have been attracting increasing interest among scientists. The larval stage has been used to study treatments for several diseases caused by microbes, and they can also be used as an alternative test model in research—helping to reduce the number of vertebrate animals, like rats and rabbits, used in scientific studies. Galleria mellonella has another superpower: it can help break down plastics. Are you wondering what else this tiny friend of science is capable of? Keep reading our article to find out even more about Galleria mellonella !