Efficacy of Ozone Gas on the Greater Wax Moth, Galleria mellonella Larvae

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture. Al-Azhar University Egypt

2 plant protection department -Faculty of Agriculture -Al-Azhar university

3 Center of Plasma Technology, Al-Azhar University Egypt.

Abstract

The greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella was reported to be one of the most destructive insect pests of honeybee wax and wood hives. Addition to hindering and reduction of honey bee activities particularly in the weak colonies. In comparison to untreated larvae, fourth instar larvae of G. mellonella were treated with ozone as a gas at various concentrations (250, 500, and 1000 ppm) for four different times (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 h). The present study clearly shows that both exposure time to ozone and the gas concentrations have obvious influence on larval mortality of G. mellonella. The lowest larval mortality (40%) were recorded after 7 days at 0.5 h exposure time when concentration of ozone were 1000 ppm comparing with control. The larval mortality was significantly increased as ozone concentration and exposure time increased and resulting complete mortality after 7 days of treatment at 1000 ppm and exposure time 1 h. The complete larval mortality was achieved after 3 days at 1000 ppm and exposure time 1.5 h. While the two concentrations of ozone (250 and 500 ppm) were caused lower mortality of G. mellonella larvae and the highest mortality was 20 and 50% at exposure time 2.0 h after 7 days, respectively. According to our findings, ozone may be a useful fumigant in the management of G. mellonella. Ozone breaks down quickly into oxygen and has very little environmental effect and highly safe insect control method without any residual and possibility for application.

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