Studies were carried out in Guangdong, China. Peak oviposition of both mothsoccurred 2 days after the start of oviposition. the low development threshold of eggs was 17.7C for G. mellonella and 17.2C for Achroia grisella, and the effectivecumulative temperature of 65.3 and 39.4 day-degrees C, respectively. The eggs of A. grisella were resistant to water and desiccation, while those of G. mellonella were not. the optimum temperature for the larval development of both species was 28 - 29C; larvae usually underwent 6 - 7 moults. Developemnt from egg to adult lasted 50.3 days for G. mellonella and 60 days for A. grisella. Control measures included cleaning hives by steeping them in boiling water for 10 min, placing stored combs in epoxyethane [oxirane] steam and then exposing them to 50C for 10 min or -7C for 4 h, and removing the cocoons of the wax moths.