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Indian Journal of Pure & Applied Biosciences (IJPAB)
Year : 2020, Volume : 8, Issue : 4
First page : (237) Last page : (245)
Article doi: : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2582-2845.7632

Ecofriendly Management of Greater Wax Moth (Galleria mellonella) Infesting Combs Under Storage

Gourav Kumar* and M.S. Khan
Apiculture Research Laboratory, Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (U.S. Nagar) -263145, Uttarakhand, India
*Corresponding Author E-mail: gauravsingh64@gmail.com
Received: 9.07.2019  |  Revised: 17.08.2019   |  Accepted: 28.08.2019 

 ABSTRACT

The greater wax moth causes greatest damage in apiaries which leads to huge financial losses every year. Besides damaging wax combs by larval feeding and destroying frames and wooden parts in the hive, adult wax moths and larvae can also transfer pathogens of serious bee diseases like foulbrood. During dearth and monsoon period, damage is increased to many folds in Apis mellifera and Apis cerana colonies. The larvae destroy raised combs in storage as well as in hives by moving into the midrib of the comb, forming tunnels heavily lined with silken material, making removal by bees difficult. Management strategies used for the control of wax moth revealed that 100% larval mortality was recorded in Deep freezer at -8 to -100C, while treatment with sulphur fumigation resulted in 43.33 per cent larval mortality. The lowest food consumption (31.11%) and hence lowest weight gain per larvae (0.0716g) was seen in treatment with NSKE (5%). Minimum per cent adult emergence (44.83%) was recorded in treatment with Neem leaves powder. The lowest per cent infestation of combs (2.37%) was seen in case of Neem oil (3%). Neem oil (3%) and sulphur fumigation is recommended for management of wax moth in order to reduce losses in storage conditions.

Keywords: Apis cerana, Sulphur fumigation, Neem oil, Larval

Full Text : PDF; Journal doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782

Cite this article: Kumar, G., & Khan, M.S. (2020). Ecofriendly Management of Greater Wax Moth (Galleria mellonella) Infesting Combs Under Storage, Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. 8(4), 237-245. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2582-2845.7632