Incidence of wax moths (Galleria mellonella Linn. and Achroia grisella Fabr.) and their parasitization by Apanteles galleriae Wilkinson in honey bee, Apis mellifera Linn. colonies in mid hill zone of Himachal Pradesh (India)

During 1993 and 1994, the population of two wax moths, viz, Galleria mellonella Linn.) Achroia grisella Fabr., was studied in three separate colonies of honey bee Apis mellifera Linn. under mid hill conditions prevailhg at Palampur of Himachal Pradesh (India). The parasitoid, Apanteles galleriae Wilkinson, was exploited for the effective control of larvae of wax moths. The maximum larval population of G. mellonella, 6 larvae/3 colonies, was recorded during the second fortnight of July 1993 and that of A. grisella was 46 lawad 3 colonies in the first fortnight of August 1993. But the maximum larval population of G. mellonella (7 larvae/3 colonies) and that of A. grisella (48 larvae/3 colonies) occurred during the second and first fortnight of August, 1994, respectively. During 1993, per cent parasitization by Apanteles galleriae varied between 16.67 and 25.0, and 33–41.30 in the case of G. mellonella and A. grisella larvae, respectively. In 1994, the parasitization varied between 14.29 and 40.0 per cent in the case of G. mellonella, and 9.09–41.67 per cent in respect of A. grisella larvae. In these two years, the meteorological conditions prevalent during the period of maximum population of both the species of wax moths and their parasitization by A. galleriae revealed that the minimum and maximum temperatures, relative humidity and rainfall ranged from 19.47–20.96°C and 24.42–26.33°C, 79.33–88.94%, and 154.0–417.6 mm, respectively.