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Achroia grisella
Lesser Wax Moth (Fabricius, 1794)
Pyralidae: Galleriinae
1426 / 62.005
Photo © Paul Kitchener,  Eye, 28 July 2008

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Similar Species: None
Wingspan: 16-24mm
Flight: July - Oct
Foodplant:   Old Honeycomb from Bee-hives
Nat Status: Local
Verification Grade:  Adult: 1
Status
Morley’s Final Catalogue: In old comb in bee-hives at Great Glemham (Bloomfield); Burv (Skepper); Ipswich in 1933 (Bp). It destroyed honeycombs at Thetford (Barrett) and Tuddenham in July 1903 (Sparke). Never seen in Suffolk till late July 1935, when it flew to light and at dusk in Monks Soham; Benacre Broad (Mly).

Recent Status: Recorded across Suffolk but not common.

Life Style: The moth is single brooded with a long flight period. It is night flying and comes to light. The larvae feed primarily on wax combs preferring old combs but will invade honey-bee combs. They feed from silken galleries. The larvae overwinter.

Identification: The moth has a heavy build and is a uniform glossy dark grey with an orange front of the head. The heavy build makes the head look small. The palps are short and orange and the neck is grey. There are a number of moths similarly coloured however all of them have the entire head and neck orange. Most are smaller and hold their wings in a different manner. The most similar is Agnoea flavifrontella but this species also has dark palps.

Recorded in 25 (43%) of 58 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1903.
Last Recorded in 2024.
Additional Stats

Latest 10 Records
Date#VC10kArea
27/08/2024125TM24Woodbridge/Martlesham
23/08/2024125TM24Woodbridge/Martlesham
16/08/2024+25TM34Hollesley/Rendlesham Forest
14/08/2024125TM15Helmingham/Claydon
12/08/2024225TM49Somerleyton/Beccles
04/08/2024125TM46Minsmere/Leiston
21/06/2024+25TM34Hollesley/Rendlesham Forest
03/06/2024126TL77Mildenhall
09/10/2023125TM58Carlton Colville/Kessingland
08/10/2023125TM13Brantham/Holbrook
Further info: Achroia grisella
 
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