Lifecycle of lesser meal worm Alphitobius sp. associated with italian honey bee colonies at Sabour

Abstract

This study is on the lifecycle of the lesser meal worm Alphitobius sp., infesting the hives of the Italian honey bee Apis mellifera L. The results revealed that the incubation period lasts for 6.05 ± 0.98 days as observed during rainy season. A total of eight instars were observed in grub stages. The developmental period of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th instars grub was 5.67 ± 0.68, 13.73 ± 0.84, 9.90 ± 1.12, 9.03 ± 0.46 days, 11.10 ± 0.45, 8.30 ± 0.43, 9.10 ± 0.27 and 5.13 ± 0.32 days, respectively. The pupal period of the female and male lasts for 2.58 ± 0.57 and 2.48 ± 0.55 days, respectively; while their lifespan lasts for 226.10 ± 19.86 and 265.90 ± 23.03 days, respectively, depending on favourable temperature and diets. Newly emerged adults started matting within weeks, and a female can lay 977.80 ± 94.68 eggs in her lifespan of 226.10 ± 19.86 days under laboratory conditions.