Advances in Life Science and Technology www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-7181 (Paper) ISSN 2225-062X (Online) Vol 14, 2013 41 Control of wax moth, Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in post harvest honey comb Samuel A. Babarinde 1 , Adeola F. Odewole 1 *, Adeyemi O. Akinyemi 2 , Timothy A. Adebayo 1 , Adesanya Olayioye. 1 , Oluwakorede A. Omodehin 1 , Oluwadamilola F. Alabi 1 1. Department of Crop and Environmental Protection, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso 210001, Nigeria 2. Department of Agronomy, Osun State University, Ejigbo Campus, Nigeria *Corresponding author’s e-mail: ogunkeyede@yahoo.com; aodewole@lautech.edu.ng Abstract An experiment was carried out in the laboratory to control the infestation of larger wax moth, Galleria mellonella, after honey extraction. Different quantities of salt in water and hermetic storage were used as methods of controlling the larvae. A treatment containing Aluminium phosphide tablet was incorporated as a chemical method of control and the treated honeycomb samples were stored for two month. Of all the treatments used, the hermetic storage and Aluminium phosphide had the best result in that the comb retained their freshness post two months storage. The number of emerged moth in opened untreated control (61.00) was higher than other treatments but significantly higher than the number of emerged moth observed in salt- treated comb in opened containers. Wax and slum gum weight were not significantly affected by the treatments. Hermetic storage is therefore recommended as a better method of controlling wax moth in honeycomb after the extraction of honey than Aluminium phosphide, due to the possibility of residue of Aluminium phosphide in the treated honeycomb. Key words: Honeycomb, Galleria mellonella, salt, hermetic storage, Aluminium phosphide, bee wax, wax moth control 1 Introduction Beekeeping, as a practice is no longer just the rustic hobby of days past. Today it is an integral part of modern agriculture as it provides pollination for nation’s staple crops, honey to the food sector, and bee’s wax to a broad spectrum of industries. As a result, monitoring the health and productivity of the honeybee colonies is essential (FAO, 2003). Although, beekeeping is known popularly for its honey as the major produce, but there are other produce which are also good sources of income. Such produce includes; beeswax, pollen, propolis, royal jelly and venom. But all these produce are limited in production as a result of environmental factors; such as unfavourable weather, noise, physical disturbances amongst others, and biotic factors; such as pest, predators and diseases like mites, wax moth, birds, lizard, nosema, sac brood amongst others (Denr-car, 1997). These limitations lead to late colonization and absconding (Babarinde et al., 2012). Wax moth has been identified as a major pest in Nigeria due to climatic factors such as temperature and humidity which is responsible for absconding (Babarinde et al., 2010). This moth destroys the beeswax which is a valuable product that can provide a worthwhile income in addition to honey. In fact one kilogram of beeswax is worth more than one kilogram of honey (FAO, 2009). To control the menace of the wax moth, different kinds of researches have been carried out. Different chemicals such as moth balls, particularly the Naphthalene ones, and PDB (Para Dichlorobenzene) has been the use of insecticides at the larval stage. But these measures may not be safe due to the residuals which are left behind in the wax. This may lead to pollution of the wax and be difficult to use for domestic and baiting new hives for colonization. In view of this, the present research work was designed to evaluate the efficacy of control methods on greater wax moth infestation of honey comb and to evaluate the effect of the control methods on the quantity of the bee wax extracted from the honey comb. 2 Materials and methods 2.1 Experimental site The experiment was carried out at the laboratory of Department of Crop and Environmental Protection, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. 2.2 Collection and treatment of honey comb After the extraction of honey, the honey combs infested by wax moth were acquired from beekeepers within Ogbomoso Metropolis. The treatments applied to the infested honeycomb include: 10 g salt in 2 litres of water stored in a closed container (Treatment A), 20 g salt in 2 litres of water stored in a closed container (Treatment B), 40 g salt in 2 litres of water stored in a closed container (Treatment C), 1 tablet of Aluminium phosphide