First report of the lesser wax moth Achroia grisella F. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) consuming polyethylene (silo-bag) in northwestern Argentina

Abstract

In this note, we report the lesser wax moth Achroia grisella F. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) (LWM), a beehive pest, for the first time in Argentina. In addition, we report observations of the larvae of this pest species consuming “silo-bags,” a material commonly used in the country for hive management. Silo-bags are composed of three layers of polyethylene and one anti-UV layer and no records of insects consuming this material are found in the literature. Our report represents a warning for apiculture in Argentina, especially when honey production has been observed to decrease recently. This decrease may be a result of a combination of factors, which may include the poor monitoring of hive health, and inappropriate management of pests such as A. grisella. In addition, our observations on silo-bag consumption represent a call for attention to beekeepers that use this material to conserve heat in the hives and open questions about the mechanisms involved in silo-bag consumption by the larvae.

Keywords:

• wax moth
• sentinel hives
• health
• pest
• plastic

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Mario Gallo and Mora Micuna Cooperative, for the donation of sentinel bee hives. Acknowledgment to Javicho S.A. for letting us keep the sentinel hives in their property. Giuliana González, Agustín Mateucci, Jorge Achar, Luciano Vaquera, and José Alonso helped in the laboratory. Thanks to Norma Nasif (UNT) for the inspiration.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The State Secretary of Innovation and Technological Development of Tucuman (SIDETEC), funded part of this project.