Apidologie (1997) 28, 85-90

M.V. Feldlaufer, D.J. Harrison and K.R. Wilzer Jr. (1997)
Comparison of the dietary and tissue sterols of the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L)
Apidologie 28 (2), 85-90
Abstract: The neutral sterols of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella were determined and compared to the sterols isolated from the used brood comb upon which the insects were reared. Analysis by gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry revealed that used brood comb contained primarily 28- and 29-carbon sterols, with cholesterol accounting for less than 1% of the total sterols detected. This differed considerably from the insect, where cholesterol comprised over 85% of the tissue sterols. These results indicate the wax moth is able to convert dietary 24-alkylsterols to cholesterol. The potential for using inhibitors of sterol metabolism to control G. mellonella is discussed.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Galleria mellonella