The effects of oxfendazole on some biological traits of Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera:Pyralidae) larvae reared on artificial diet

First-instar larvae of Galleria mellonella (L.) were reared with a benzimidazole derivative antihelmintic antibiotic oxfendazole in the artificial diet to adult stage. These diets contain different oxfendazole concentrations, 0.0015, 0.015, 0.15 or 1.5 %. In this thesis, it has been investigated that the effects of oxfendazole on survivorship, development, male and female adult longevity, fecundity and hatchability of greater wax moth G. mellonella. Relative to the control, the diets containing oxfendazole concentrations significantly shortened in decreased survivorship in larval, pupal and adult stages. The highest concentration of oxfendazole (1,5 %) significantly decreased adult yield from 84.9 ± 1.42 to 34.9 ± 1.45 %. The highest oxfendazole concentration also significantly prolonged the time to reach adult stage by approximately 4 days, and reduce adult longevity. Oxfendazole at all concentration resulted in significantly lowered egg number and decreased hatchability The highest concentration of this antibiotic (1,5 %) significantly decreased egg number from 93,8 ± 1,72 to 30,8 ± 0,94 per female and hatchability from 88.9 ± 1,92 to 53,7 ± 1,43 %. It is observed that according to these results, oxfendazole has adverse effects on survivorship, devolopment, fecundity and egg hatching, longevity of adult male and famale of G. mellonella.