Eco-friendly management of greater wax moth Galleria mellonella l.in Apis mellifera l. colonies
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Date
2022-10
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G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar
Abstract
The experiments on “ECO-FRIENDLY MANAGEMENT OF GREATER WAX MOTH (Galleria mellonella L.) IN Apis mellifera L. COLONIES” were conducted during 2021-22 at Department of Entomology, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Udham Singh Nagar India. The greater wax moth (G. mellonella, Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is one of the most serious pests of honey bee colonies. Females of the moth laid their eggs in cluster usually in the cracks or between wooden parts of the hives. The larvae mainly feed and destroy beeswax combs. The larvae of these moths form a silken feeding tunnel, which enlarge along the mid-rib of the comb or make borings through the thin wax caps of honey cells causing honey to leak out. Management studies of wax moth revealed that after 14 days of feeding, lowest weight gain by the larvae was 0.030 g in T2 (NSKE). The second lowest weight gain was 0.034 g in T3 (Bt kurstaki). In treatment T2 (NSKE) the larval mortality recorded 57.39% and lowest adult emergence was 33.33%. The minimum reduction of comb weight was recorded 2.85 g in treatment with T2 (NSKE). Treatment with different concentration of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae revealed that with increase in dose of B. bassiana, mortality of wax moth increased. At highest dose of 1×108 conidia/ml 81.6% mortality of larvae of greater wax moth was observed which was greater than 60.23% mortality caused by M. anisopliae at the same dose and same period of time. Treatment with UV radiations for different time period revealed that the hatchability of eggs and adult emergence was decreased and the mortality of adults was increased. Exposure to UV radiations for 15 min of time period resulted 76.66% of hatchability of eggs, 50% of adult emergence and 33.33% of adult mortality. For management of wax moth in order to reduce losses in storage conditions, it can be recommended that the combs can be treated with NSKE and Bt kurstaki. These treatments are effective in controlling the larvae of greater wax moth in stored condition. It was also concluded that B. bassiana and M. anisopliae at concentration of 1×108 conidia/ml are effective entomopathogens which can be used for the management of wax moth in stored combs. It was also concluded that exposure to UV radiations can also used for control the greater wax moth.