Survey, biology and management of greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella L. in Southern Karnataka, India

Abstract

The greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is considered as a ubiquitous pest of honey bee colonies, causes highest loss to the beekeeping industry. The complete life cycle (egg to emergence) of G. mellonella occupied 35-45 days. Fecundity rate of wax moth was 300-600 eggs and were laid in batches. The eggs hatched within 5-8 days when temperatures ranged from 29 oC to 35 oC. The larvae tunnelled into the comb, lining their tunnels with silky web as they go inside. Freshly built combs were preferred by initial stages of larvae and latter stages were found feeding on the old comb. The colonies in the plain regions with high temperature were more susceptible to wax moth attack. In Chikkaballapur and Chitradurga regions 72 and 58 percent pest incidence were recorded. The incidence of G. mellonella in V- Bt treated combs was significantly lower than that observed in HD-1 treated ones, irrespective of the concentration of Bt. Out of the two Bt products, V-Bt (commercial product) and HD-1 (local Bt product), the highest larval mortality with less comb damage was recorded in case of the former. Placing yellow sticky trap fitted with A. dorsata comb on top cover of the A. cerana hive helped in better prevention of the wax moth infestation in A. cerana colonies.