Effects of Juglone on the Antioxidant Metabolism in the Larval Hemolymph of the Greater Wax Moth Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is the most destructive pest of honey bee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Apidae), throughout the world. The present study was conducted to determine the quantitative and qualitative impairing effects of the arthropod venoms, viz., death stalker scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus (Hemprich & Ehrenberg) venom (SV), oriental Hornet (wasp) Vespa orientalis Linnaeus venom (WV) and Apitoxin of A. mellifera (AP) on the larval haemogram. For this purpose, the 3rd instar larvae were treated with LC50 of each of these venoms (3428.9, 2412.6, and 956.16 ppm, respectively). The haematological investigation was conducted in haemolymph of the 5th and 7th (last) instar larvae. The important results could be summarized as follows. Five basic types of the freely circulating haemocytes in the haemolymph of last instar (7th) larvae of G. mellonella had been identified: Prohemocytes (PRs), Plasmatocytes (PLs), Granulocytes (GRs), Spherulocytes (SPs) and Oenocytoids (OEs). All venoms unexceptionally prohibited the larvae to produce normal hemocyte population (count). No certain trend of disturbance in the differential hemocyte counts of circulating hemocytes in larvae of G. mellonella after treatment with the arthropod venoms. Increasing or decreasing population of the circulating hemocytes seemed to depend on the potency of the venom, hemocyte type and the larval instar. In PRs of last instar larvae, some cytopathological features had been observed after treatment with AP or WV, but SV failed to cause cytopathological features. With regard to PLs, some cytopathological features had been observed after treatment with AP while both SV and WV failed to cause cytopathological features in this hemocyte type. No venom exhibited cytopathological effects on GRs, SPs or OEs.

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A new species of Galleria Fabricius (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) from Korea based on molecular and morphological characters

ZooKeys ◽

10.3897/zookeys.970.54960 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 970 ◽

pp. 51-61

Author(s):

Seung Jin Roh ◽

Haechul Park ◽

Seong-Hyun Kim ◽

So-Yun Kim ◽

Yong-Su Choi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Galleria Mellonella ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Taxonomic Study ◽

Greater Wax Moth ◽

Lepidoptera Pyralidae ◽

A New Species ◽

Molecular Characters ◽

Wax Moth

The greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella Linnaeus, is well known as a pest of honey bees and for the biodegradation of wax and polyethylene by their larvae. The genus Galleria has long been considered monotypic and found worldwide. A taxonomic study of the genus Galleria is presented based on morphological and molecular characters (COI, CAD, wg). A new species (Galleria similis Roh & Song, sp. nov.) is recognized on the Korean peninsula. The new species is superficially similar to G. mellonella but they can be separated by the structures of hindwing venation and male genitalia. Habitus photographs and illustrations of diagnostic characters are provided.

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Natural Products can Efficiently Control the Greater Wax Moth (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), but are Harmless to Honey Bees

Sociobiology ◽

10.13102/sociobiology.v67i1.4594 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 67 (1) ◽

pp. 89

Author(s):

Daniele Maria Telles ◽

Gabriel Moreno Martineli ◽

Maurice Fabian Scaloppi ◽

Marina Pagliai Ferreira Luz ◽

Samir Moura Kadri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Natural Products ◽

Population Growth ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Galleria Mellonella ◽

Greater Wax Moth ◽

Lepidoptera Pyralidae ◽

Tobacco Extract ◽

Bee Colonies ◽

Wax Moth

Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) have great global socioeconomic and environmental importance. However, the greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella L.) is a pest that causes serious worldwide damage to honey bee colonies. Good beekeeping practices and physical, chemical, or natural methods can be used to control wax moths. The use of natural products is a more sustainable option because of their lower toxicity to the environment and the colony. Therefore, we evaluated the efficiency of four natural products for greater wax moth control: neem oil (Azadirachta indica), eucalyptus oil (Eucalyptus spp.), tobacco extract (Nicotiana tabacum), and malagueta pepper extract (Capsicum frutescens). We also evaluated their effects on adult bees and on the population growth of colonies. The 4th instar wax moths and adult bees were subjected to in vitro bioassays of different concentrations of the products. The results allowed usto establish a concentration for each product that was safe for the bees and effectively controlled the moth. Then, we sprayed them on bee colonies to evaluate their effects on population growth. The neem and eucalyptus oils caused wax moth mortality at low concentrations, but did not affect colony population growth. However, they did have a toxic effect on adult bees. The tobacco and pepper extracts efficiently controlled the moth, but did not cause adult bee mortality or interfered with the population growth of the colonies. Therefore, the tobacco and pepper extracts could efficiently control the greater wax moth, without damaging honey bees.

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