Honey Bees and Its Pest Wax Moth

Home , Lesser wax moth, Waxworm

© 2019 JETIR January 2019, Volume 6, Issue 1 www.jetir.org (ISSN-2349-5162) HONEY BEES AND ITS PEST WAX MOTH Nikhita Kapahi and Lovleen Department of Zoology, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab- 144411

Abstract

Honeybees produce exceptionally healthy, viscous and organic substitute of sugar called honey. Honey is rich in proteins, vitamins, organic acids, enzymes, flavonoids, etc. Honey has anti-oxidant properties. Honeybees are economically important insect and are producers of honey, bee wax, and other products. Honeybees are also pollinators of various plants. Major species of honeybees found in India are- Apis mellifera, Apis dorsata, Apis cerana, Apis florea. Wax moth is maximum destruction causing pest of honeybees. Wax moths are usually categorised as Greater and Lesser wax moth. This review paper will mainly focus on honeybees, wax moth and damage caused by wax moth.

Keywords- Honey, Honeybee, Greater wax moth, Lesser wax moth

Introduction

Honey- Honey is phenomenal product by honey bees which is highly viscous golden liquid and can be used as organic substitute to sugar. Honey chemically constitutes water (10-20%), mineral salts (sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium etc.), proteins, flavonoids, volatile chemicals, vitamins (niacin, ascorbic acid), phenolic acids, sugars in the form of glucose and fructose (70-80%), enzymes (catalase, invertase, glucose oxidase, phosphatases), organic acids (acetic acid, gluconic acid) [1-6]. The physical and chemical properties, composition of honey totally depends on plant species visited by honeybees’ alongwith climatic condition of that region, storage and processing [7]. Honey with dark colour possesses high antioxidant activity and high phenolic content as compared to light coloured honey [8].

Honey bees- Honeybees are the most useful and fascinating insect as it produces honey, collects pollen, produces bee wax and produces other useful products. Honeybees belong to Order-Hymenoptera and Family- Apidae. The honeybees are one of economically important insect as they are major insect pollinators of many agricultural crops and producer of honey. Honeybees represent the ideal example of division of labour and polymorphism (with queen, drone, and worker population). The discussed insect lives in colonies, in the nest called beehives which are seen hanging down the ceilings of old building, houses or on branches of trees. Artificially honeybees are cultivated by bee farmers in the boxes called Bee boxes or artificial hives.

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© 2019 JETIR January 2019, Volume 6, Issue 1 www.jetir.org (ISSN-2349-5162) Types of honeybees- There are major four species of honeybees primarily found in India named- Apis mellifera, Apis dorsata, Apis cerana, Apis florea. The Apis mellifera is cultivated by bee farmers majorly in India. But Apis dorsata is major source of honey in India.

Apis mellifera- Apis mellifera (A. mellifera) has capability to colonize in vast area in short duration of time. This species of honey bee can survive in cold- temperate as well as in semi-desert tropical regions. The variability in phenotype is due to morphology and behaviour of the species. The variability amongst the species is due to the specificity of learning, rhythm during transmission, reaction to cold, and sensitivity to diseases [9].

Apis cerana- Apis cerana (A. cerana) is known as Eastern Asiatic counterpart of A. mellifera. Morphology and behaviour of A. cerana is similar to A.mellifera [10]. A. cerana possess characters which are species specific and genetically separates this specie from A. mellifera. A. cerana has same ecological requirements as that of A. mellifera. The discussed insect has also successfully inhabited cool temperate zone of forest areas of Ussuria in East Siberia to northern China. The colonies and honey yield of the concerned insect is smaller as compared to A. mellifera [11].

Apis dorsata (A.dorsata) - A. dorsata is largest amongst all the honey bees. Two subspecies of A. dorsata namely A. dorsata binghami and A. dorsata breviligula were recorded. This particular honey bee specie is known to build large combs under the thick branches of large trees. A. dorsata show well organised mass defense reaction. Every year A. dorsata seasonally migrates 100-200 km distance every year. The migration timing is related to change in the season (dry to rainy period) [11].

Apis florea (A. florea) – A. florea is mostly settled on plains but can also be found upto 500 m of height. Seasonal migration of the discussed insect can be upto 1500 m height or even higher height [12]. A. florea are known to nest in bushes and shades of trees. A. florea is distributed in India, Persian Gulf, Srilanka, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia. A. florea perform a communication dance on the top of the comb and they point directly towards food [11].

Wax moth general description and types of wax moth-Wax moth is one of the major, common and destructive pest to Bee hives globally. Generally the common name wax moth is used for Greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella) and Lesser wax moth (Achroia grisella). Greater wax moth and Lesser wax moth belong to Order- Lepidoptera and Family-Pyralidae. Many investigations on the biology, life history, ecology, behaviour, physiology, control and molecular biology of the wax moth are executed due to excessive economic importance of wax moth. Although wax moths have importance to apiculture industry but they are considered as model organism for genomics, insect physiology and proteomics, etc. Larvae of both the wax moth are serious pest of honey bee wax colony; they can also cause damage to bee keeping equipment [13].

Life cycle of Wax moth-

Wax moth eggs – Eggs of greater wax moth possess wavy lines running diagonally and are pearly white to light pink in colour. Eggs of greater and lesser wax moth vary in surface texture. Oviposition by greater wax JETIRDW06066 Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR) www.jetir.org 408

© 2019 JETIR January 2019, Volume 6, Issue 1 www.jetir.org (ISSN-2349-5162) moth females is done in the clumps of 50-150 eggs [14]. During development period, egg colour changes from white to yellowish colour. Approximately four days before hatching the larva of greater wax moth is visible as a dark ring enclosed in the egg. Fully formed larva is visible through the egg chorion approximately twelve hours before hatching [15]. Eggs of greater wax moth develop quickly at 290C- 350C i.e. at warm temperature and development takes about 30 days at 180C i.e. at cold temperature. Survival of eggs at extreme cold temperature i.e. at or below 00C is for 4.5 hours and at extremely hot temperature at 460C or above is for 70 minutes only [14].

Wax moth larvae – When hatched from the egg, the larva of greater wax moth is 1-3 mm in length and off– white in colour. The head of the wax moth larva is yellowish in colour smaller than the prothoracic segment [15].As stemmata is present in greater wax moth an absent in lesser wax moth it can be used as diagnostic feature to differentiate amongst the larvae of both the moths. Appearance of spiracles can also be used to differentiate the greater and lesser wax moth larvae. The thoracic legs of larvae are well developed when larva first emerges and abdominal eggs are visible when larva is three days old. Larva of greater wax moth moults seven times all through its development. Increase in size and maximum growth occurs at last two larval stages. Development of larva lasts for 6-7 weeks at high humidity and 290C-320C. Fully matured greater wax moth larva is 20mm in length approximately [15]. Body of wax moth larva is grey coloured having a brown prothoracic shield with a broad band across it. Head is reddish, small and slightly pointed possessing v-shaped line opening towards the front of head [15]. At 33.80C, greater wax moth larva moults 8-9 times over course of its development [16-17]. Mature larvae of greater wax moth have the ability to bore into the wood and often produce boat-shaped indentations in the hive body or frames, these indentations are used as a place to pupate by the wax moth larva. Larva starts spinning silk threads that will give rise to cocoon, which is attached by wax moths larva to excavated indentations [15]. Outer layer of the cocoon is hard after sometime whereas inner part remains padded and soft. The construction time of cocoon can be variable due to humidity and temperature but the on average it takes 2.25 days to complete the construction of cocoon. As the cocoon is constructed the larva becomes less active. Larva produces incision point in the cocoon to escape as fully grown adult from the cocoon [15].The greater wax moth larvae congregate in hive whereas lesser wax moth larvae are usually found within the comb individually in tunnels [14].

Wax moth pupae- Depending upon the temperature, in greater wax moth the time taken in development from larva to pupa with the cocoon ranges from 3.75 to 6.4 days. The newly formed pupa inside the cocoon is white in colour and becomes yellow in colour after 24 hours [15]. After 4 days, pupa gradually darkens and becomes light brown in colour and at the end of pupation it becomes dark brown in colour. In greater wax moth, size of pupa ranges from 12 to 20mm in length and 5 to 7mm in diameter [15]. Bodyline of pupa curves downwards and development of a row of spines from back of the head to fifth abdominal segment is visible[15]. In greater wax moth the development stage varies with temperature and season from 6 to 55 days [14].

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© 2019 JETIR January 2019, Volume 6, Issue 1 www.jetir.org (ISSN-2349-5162) Wax moth adult- Length of the adult greater wax moth is 15mm and average length of wing is 31mm. Wings of adult are grey in colour and hind wings are bronze in colour. Amongst greater and lesser wax moth wing venation can act as a diagnostic feature [18]. In greater wax moth, the males are lighter in colour, slightly smaller than female and males have indented, scalloped front wing margin in contrast to females with straight front wing margin As compared to males females have 10-20% long antennae [15]. Greater wax moths usually emerge as adults in early evening and after emergence from cocoon wax moths find a protected place to dry and expand their wings. As adults greater wax moths do not feed and males live for about 21 days and females live for about 12 days [15].

Wax moth mating behaviour – Wax moth mates shortly after emergence. Both greater and lesser wax moth males attract the mates by producing short ranged ultrasonic waves. The male calls the female and promote wing fanning by females. Wing fanning by female causes pheromone release by males; this is leading approach by females prior to copulation [19-21].

Wax moth as honeybee pest- Wax moth are one of the major pests of Honeybees. These cause severe harm to bee colonies of the bee farmers. The larval stage of the wax moth is the damage causing stage to bee hives. They feed on brood cells, honey, pollen and cause damage in excess to bee colonies.

Wax moth infesting beehive- Adult wax moths enter the bee hive in the evening when the honeybees are aggressive. If honeybees chase the wax moth, they fly out of the beehive. Few wax moths enter the hive and oviposit in the early evening. Other moths enter the hive when there is less difficulty and honeybees are not present to attack them [22].

Damage caused by Wax moth larva- Initially the first instar of larva fed on honey, and then larva infests unsealed brood combs and pollen. Wax moth larva usually constructs tunnel inside the uncapped brood cells and from there they reach and fed on capped brood cells. Worker honeybees could capture small larvae of wax moth but could not harm late instars of wax moth. As bees tried to sting late instars of wax moth but these larvae were resistant to penetration of bee sting. Thus late instars of wax moth were capable of causing maximum damage [23].

Conclusion

Wax moth cause huge damage to beehive. The pest is responsible for destroying brood combs and thus harms the honeybee population. This can lead to decline in honeybee population which destructs the entire bee colony. The solution to this problem is control of the pest population. To avoid the use of chemicals, the control of pest population can be done by means of biological control. As use of chemical control can lead to presence of chemicals in the produced honey which can lead to harmful effects on human population.

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