One thing that is important re: the wax moth cold survival issue, is that random slow freezing vs. slow freezing "their way" will potentially make a difference.

For instance, consider woolly bears:  If they are stuck on the sidewalk they die if there is a hard frost, but their "brothers and sisters" who "make it" to suitable locations...whatever those are...do just fine and get through the cold to propagate their kind during the next season.   If you quickly freeze any insect you usually cannot revive it...anyone know of an exception?  But what are the proper conditions of the environment necessary to survive a slow freeze?  We don't know.  Yet every year, thousands of bugs appear within days of the spring thaw, and most who ice fish see them even earlier than that!

So it won't necessarily answer the wax moth question to just stick some wax moth larvae in a dish and cool them slowly.  They may need to be on their own "turf".  The experiment would need to be conducted under several different conditions.  I think this is really really interesting and hope there is follow-up by somebody.  It's not economically important, but it would be satisfying to understand!

Christina

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