Effects of Natural Food Additives on The Protein Content of Adult and Immature Stages of The Wax Moth Endoparasitoid,

Abstract

The endoparasitoid, Apanteles galleriae, is one of the effective parasitoids on the greater and lesser wax moths,Galleria mellonella and Achroia greissella. The parasitoid was kept in the laboratory on lesser wax moths, Achroiagreissella as a host. Males and females were fed on pure honey, diluted honey (80%), diluted honey + royal jelly (20mg/ml), diluted honey + Pollen (20 mg/ml) and diluted honey + royal jelly + pollen (same ratio). Food substitutes wereoffered to the parasitoid freely. The resulting generation was then used for the protein content studies. The proteincontents of both males and females were monitored throughout their life span. In addition, the protein contents ofparasitoid larvae and pupae were monitored as well. Protein electrophoresis for previous treatments has shownheterogeneous band distribution when compared with controls. Band distributions and densities were characteristicallyvariable over time, food supplement and insect stages.