Evaluating the Effect of Plant Extracts against Greater Wax Moth, Galleria Mellonella (L)

Abstract

Beekeeping is an important activity to increase the family income in rural areas. However, honey bees pests and their control measurements is a great challenge. Hence, this experiment was conducted to evaluate and identify the effectiveness of essential oils extracted from neem (Azadirachta indica), basil (Ocimum basilicum), Calpurnia aurea, Cymbopogon citratus, Vernonia amygdalina, Vebascum sinatticum benth and Maesa lanceolata Forssk against the larvae of greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella. Plant species were collected, dried, grinded and plant extracts were prepared from the selected plants using soxhlet extraction method. Botanical extracts were dissolved in distilled water to obtain 5%, 10%, and 15% concentrations and contact toxicity assay was conducted in the laboratory on the larvae of greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella. The experiment was laid out in Complete Randomized Design (CRD) and replicated three times. The results showed that, plant extracts tested at various concentrations exhibited variable responses to the larvae of greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella as compared to the controls. The highest larval mortality (94.22%) was recorded from neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extract followed by basil (Ocimum basilicum) (83.76%), Vernonia amygdalina (77.47%), Calpurnia aurea (66%) and Vebascum sinatticum benth (43.66%) after application of 15% dose of plant extract within 48 hrs as compared with controls. Less larvae mortality rate was recorded in the leaf extracts of Calpurnia aurea (64.33%) and Vebascum sinatticum benth (55%). This study concluded that, neem (Azadirachta indica) and Ocimum basilicum extracts had showed best result against the larvae of greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella compared to other botanical extracts. Therefore, neem (Azadirachta indica) and Ocimum basilicum oil extracts can be developed as sources of natural pesticides for the management of larvae of greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella. However, further research should be carried out in order to identify its effectiveness on the field and on honeybees.

Keywords: Galleria mellonella, wax moth, plant extracts, mortality, larvae

DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/9-21-05

Publication date: November 30^th 2019