The effect of triclabendazole on survival and development of Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) reared on artificial diet

By using artificial diets, effect of a benzimidazole compound triclabendazole on survival rate in different developmental stages and developmental time to these stages of greater wax moth Galleria mellonella L was investigated. Triclabendazole was incorporated into diets at concentrations of 0.001, 0.01 or 0.1%. In the present study, G. mellonella larvae was reared from first instar larvae to adult emergence on artificial media with different concentrations of triclabendazole. Low concentrations of this anthelmintic antibiotic (0.001 and 0.01 g per 100 g of diet) significantly decreased the survivorship in seventh instar (7th-instar) and adult stage whereas they had no effect on pupation in comparison to control diet. However, this anthelmintic agent at the highest dietary concentration had no effect on survival of 7th-instar larvae while the pupation and adult emergence were significantly decreased. The control diet without triclabendazole produces 7th-instars of 94.8 ± 2.77 while addition of triclabendazole into diets at 0.001% (0.001 g/100g diet) enabled 1st-instar larvae to reach 7th-instar larvae at a percentage of 77.9 ± 7.45. The highest concentration of this anthelmintic agent (0.1 g/100g diet) decreased pupation from 81.6 ± 4.32 to 43.3 ± 7.45, adult emergence rate from 73.3 ± 2.36 to 13.3 ± 2.36. It has been demonstrated that low concentrations of triclabendazole added in to diets were not significantly effective on developmental time to reach 7th larval stage. The highest concentration of this anthelmintic agent in the diet prolonged developmental time to 7th larval stage by 3.8 days reaching total 22.8 ±1.54 days. Low concentrations of this anthelmintic (0.001 and 0.01%) added into diets had no significant effect on developmental time to pupation and adult emergence relative to control. When 0.1% of triclabendazole was added into control diet, developmental time to pupation and adult emergence was significantly prolonged in comparison to control diet. This diet prolonged pupal developmental time from 24.6 ± 1.24 to 28.4 ± 1.24, adult developmental time from 35.3 ± 1.27 to 42.0 ± 1.62. This study is of importance in appreciation for usage of antihelmintic with different structure and mode of actions in the management of pest insects. Usage of antihelmintic antibiotics as alternative for toxic insecticides contributes into reducing damage to environment and nontarget organisms.