Sensitivity of the Greater Wax Moth Galleria Mellonella to Carbon Dioxide Enriched Modified Atmospheres
E. J. Donahaye, S. Navarro, Miriam Rindner and A. Azrieli¹
¹Department of Stored Producrs. Agriculrural Research Organization. The Voicanl Center. P. 0. B. 6, Bet Dagan. Israel. Fax: 972 - 3 - 9604428. E. Mail: jondon@netvision.net.11
Abstract: Galleria nlellmlella (L . ) , is a cosmopolitan pest. causing serious economic damage to honey-bee combs during complete storage. Efforts are being made in Israel to replace existing control methods against this pest based on fumigation, with an environmentally friendly treatment that affords long-term protection. For this purpose, application of modified ( MAS) by single shot flushing with carbon dioxide ( C q ) has been developed using flexible treatment chambers, and modified transport containers. This laboratory study was made to provide information on the effect of exposure period on wax moth mortality over the range of MA concentrations and temperatures encountered in practice.
Three MAS, namely 80%, 70% and 60% COࠢ in air, were supplied at 75% r. h. to exposure chambers held at 26°C and 30°C . Eggs (24 - 48 h) , larvae ( 12 d) . pupae (0 -38 h) and adults (0 - 24 h) were exposed in the chambers the economic viability of the ke-keeping industry. for periods ranging from eight hours to twelve days. Mortalities were recorded and subjected to probit analysis except for eggs where exposure time till no-survival was recorded. For all treatments, adults were the most sensitive, and eggs the least sensitive, with sensitivity being consistently higher at 30°C. It was concluded that 10 days exposure to a range of 90 - 60% CO₂ swill give complete control of all stages.
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