Suppressive Impact of 6-Benzyladenine, A Plant Growth Regulator, on the Adult Performance and Reproductive Potential of Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The greater wax moth Galleria mellonella is responsible for serious economic losses to bee keepers in developing countries. Larvae feed on the wax comb in weak colonies or during the storage of wax combs in winter. The objective of the current study was to assess the effect of the Cytokinin plant growth regulator, Benzyladenine (6-BA), on the most important parameters of adult performance and reproductive potential of G. mellonella. The 3rd instar larvae were force-fed on an artificial diet supplemented with six concentrations, viz., 100, 10.0, 1.0, 0.1, 0.01 & 0.001ppm of 6-BA. No adult moths could metamorphose at the higher three concentrations because of larval and pupal deaths. The most important results could be summarized as follows. The adult emergence was blocked by 6-BA, in a dose-dependent course. Also, the tested compound displayed strong adulticidal activity, since adult mortality increased in a dose-dependent course. The total adult longevity of moths was significantly prolonged.All longevity compartments were remarkably prolonged. On the other hand, 6-BA failed to affect adult morphogenesis. The oviposition efficiency was deleteriously prohibited. Also, 6-BA exhibited a tremendous inhibitory effect on the female fecundity and reducing effect onfertility. The embryonic development in eggs laid by treated adult females was severely retarded, since the incubation period of these eggs was remarkably prolonged.