The greater wax moth (GWM), Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is a major bee pest that causes significant damage to beehives and results in economic losses. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) appears as a potential sustainable solution to control this pest. Here, we develop a novel Bt strain (designated BiotGm) that exhibits insecticidal activity against GWM larvae with a LC value lower than 2 μg/g, and low toxicity levels to honey bee with a LC = 20598.78 μg/mL for larvae and no observed adverse effect concentration = 100 μg/mL for adults. We design an entrapment method consisting of a lure for GWM larvae, BiotGm, and a trapping device that prevents bees from contacting the lure. We find that this method reduces the population of GWM larvae in both laboratory and field trials. Overall, these results provide a promising direction for the application of Bt-based biological control of GWM in beehives, although further optimization remain necessary.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42946-4 | DOI Listing |
Insects
December 2024
Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China.
The greater wax moth (GWM, ) is a prevalent pest of the honeybee and a significant risk to both honeybee populations and honeycomb storage. Research on the toxicity of essential oils (EOs) to GWM larvae has provided promising results, although their ovicidal effects and active ingredients require further study. Identifying effective plant compounds is essential for developing insecticides for GWM control.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNat Commun
November 2023
State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
The greater wax moth (GWM), Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is a major bee pest that causes significant damage to beehives and results in economic losses. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) appears as a potential sustainable solution to control this pest. Here, we develop a novel Bt strain (designated BiotGm) that exhibits insecticidal activity against GWM larvae with a LC value lower than 2 μg/g, and low toxicity levels to honey bee with a LC = 20598.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInsects
May 2022
Entomology Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt.
Beekeeping is essential for the global food supply, yet honeybee health and hive numbers are increasingly threatened by habitat alteration, climate change, agrochemical overuse, pathogens, diseases, and insect pests. However, pests and diseases that have unknown spatial distribution and influences are blamed for diminishing honeybee colonies over the world. The greater wax moth (GWM), , is a pervasive pest of the honeybee, .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFolia Microbiol (Praha)
February 2022
Department of Entomology, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, 785013, Assam, India.
Greater wax moth (GWM), Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is a highly destructive honey bee pest prevalent throughout the world. It is considered as a major factor to the alarming decline in honey bee population. GWM destroys active honey combs as it feeds on the beeswax and lays eggs in bee hives, and the primary food of their larva is beeswax.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Econ Entomol
February 2021
Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Some plant essential oil constituents, such as monoterpenoids and phenylpropanoids, are promising insecticides in some situations and for certain insect pests. They vary in their toxicity, depending on the target insect. Moths (Lepidoptera) appear susceptible to these compounds, making them of promise for use against greater wax moths (Galleria mellonella Fabricius, (Lepidoptera: Pyrallidae), GWM), an important pest of western honey bee (Apis mellifera Linnaeus.
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