Effect of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorokin on cellular defence response and oxygen uptake of the wax moth Galleria mellonella L. (Lep., Pyralidae)

Remarkable changes in the cellular response and oxygen uptake in the wax moth Galleria mellonella were observed when larvae were infected with the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. The number of haemocytes increased 48, 72 and 96 h after infection with fungal conidiospores. Extensive blebbing of the cell membrane in the haemocytes and large numbers of vacuoles were noticed as a result of fungal infection. The study showed a significant difference in oxygen uptake between healthy and infected larvae and the greatest uptake was recorded 72 h after fungal infection. The results suggested that the rate of cellular reaction and oxygen uptake were associated with the development of fungal infection.