Potential biocontrol of the greater wax moth, galleria mellonella l. (lepidoptera: pyralidae)‎ and mass rearing of the parasitic mite, pyemotes scolyti oud. (acari: pyemotidae)‎

Abstract EN

The present work was carried out to test the possible biocontrol of the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella L.

(Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) by the parasitic mite, Pyemotes scolyti Oud.

(Acari: Pyemotidae) and mass rearing of the mite on this pest.

Experiments were carried out at the Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, Egypt, during 2018-2019 years.

Rearing conditions, i.

e.

25 ± 1C and 70 ± 5 % RH were applied.

The obtained results showed that duration of immature stages of P.

scolyti ranged between 6-9 days.

Mean count of emerged offspring was 198.22 individuals/ gravid female mite.

The male mite lived for 1.20 day, while the female lived for 8.90 days.

During bioassay test of different stages of the moth, larvae seemed to be a preferable host for the tested mite compared with pupae or adults.

Further investigations should be carried out to clarify the mitewax moth-honey bee-interactions.