The effect of homeopathic drug and essential oil against greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella L.

Abstract

The honeybee is known since ancient time as an important factor for increasing the yield of various crops and produces different products such as propels pollen, royal jelly, bee wax and honey. Thehoneybees get infected by some pests such as the lesser wax moth which isa highly destructive insect that attacks and destroy bee wax combsespecially those in storage and can cause substantial losses to combs. The greater wax moth (GWM) Galleria mellonell L. is one of the most devastating pest. The influence of Homeopathic drug Iodium and Essential Oil as Thyme on the biology of the greater wax moth was studied in the laboratory. The result shows that, with an increase in the concentrations and relative periods there was a corresponding increase in the total mortality of greater wax moth larvae. However, the hatching decreased with increase in the concentration of Homeopathic drug Iodium and Essential Oil Thyme when compared to control significantly.