Evaluation of different non-chemical wax moth prevention methods in the backyards of rural beekeepers in the North West dry land areas of Ethiopia

Abstract

Wax moths are ubiquitous pests of honey bee colonies that destroy beeswax combs. To study the efficiency of different preventing techniques in local conditions, five treatments were assigned to purposively selected wax moth susceptible colonies. The results have revealed that 66.7% of the colonies have absconded from control treatments due to wax moth infestation. Colonies assigned to supplementary feeding (with 16391.3 bee population) were significantly better than other treatments in preventing serious wax moth attacks while the control group possessed the lowest value (12588.23). This further elucidated that strong colonies had better strength to defend pest attacks. Even if the overall average number of wax moth infected combs was 1.16 combs per colony, tobacco leaf smoke had the lowest (0.39) infected combs. Furthermore, the control group was the highest in the number of counted wax moth larvae (471) where tobacco leaf smoking was with the lowest value (43). In conclusion, supplementary feeding and appropriate use of tobacco leaf smoke shall be used as a combined recommendation in reducing the damage. Moreover, training of beneficiaries in appropriate use of tested methods and seasonal colony management techniques should be included in the package. Based on the current trends in wax moth damage in the country, studies on all possible safe preventive strategies will be a focus of future national research directions. Thus, this contribution, we believe, will be used as a building block. Of course, attempts in developing a natural enemy against wax moth adults shall keep the balance in the environment as the insect is also beneficial in the ecology. Key Words: wax moth, wax moth attack, infestation, supplementary feeding, wax moth trap, tobacco leaf smoke, absconding, ecology