Integrating Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Managing Pests of Honeybees

Entomopathogenic nematode performance in three honey bee pests: small hive beetle, greater and lesser wax moths

Small hive beetle (Aethina tumida Murray) control has become an issue of increasing importance for North American apiculturists throughout the past two decades. Aethina tumida was discovered in Florida in 1989, presumably transported from its native habitat of sub-Saharan Africa through the shipment of European honey bee (Apis mellifera L) queens. Estimates of damage from A. tumida were as high as $3 million annually in the United States by the year 2004, and A. tumida was found in nearly every state by 2008. When adult beetles emerge from pupation in soil surrounding the hive, they are attracted to A. mellifera hives through a variety of pheromones and volatile organic compounds from bees and hive products. Aethina tumida larvae and adults consume hive products and bee brood, generating fermenting waste (or slime), which can eventually lead to hive abandonment in cases of severe infestation. Pest management efforts for A. tumida have focused on trapping adults, applying lime, diatomaceous earth, pyrethroid soil drenches, and entomopathogenic nematodes to the soil surrounding A. mellifera hives. Understanding the biology and life history of A. tumida, along with current control methods, can aid apiculturists in making informed integrated pest management decisions. Additionally, understanding critical knowledge gaps in the current research is an important step in identifying promising future management tactics in the ongoing efforts to manage this invasive pest.

Galleria mellonella L. is an important pest of honeybees. The primary objective of the study is mass-rearing Galleria mellonella using a modified artificial diet. Globally, Galleria baiting technique with larvae of the greater wax moth, G. mellonella L., is the most commonly used method for recovering entomopathogenic fungi and infective-stage juveniles of entomopathogenic nematodes from soil. Therefore G. mellonella was mass reared at laboratory condition using modified method of Birah et al. (2008) by artificial diet. The mean larval duration for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th instar was 3.2 ± 0.08, 5.2 ± 0.13, 6.1±0.39, 5.6 ± 0.26, 7.4 ± 0.13, 7.6 ± 0.21, 8.5 ± 0.47 days respectively. The mean pupal period was 8.1 ± 0.29 days. The total developmental period was 73.56 ± 1.27 days. Mean fecundity was 680 ± 42.5 numbers, larval weight was 19.98 ± 0.91 mg for 7 days old larva, 376.48 ± 6.52 mg for 14 days old larva, mean pupal weight was 393.33 ± 6.81 mg and adult emergence was 91.15 ± 3.97 per cent.