Efficacy of natural plant products, Azadirachta indica, Ocimum sanctum and Pongamia pinnata in the management of greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella L. under laboratory conditions

Use of Natural plant products in the management of the greater wax moth, G. mellonella L. under laboratory conditions was carried out. The results revealed that the larval mortality of wax moth varied significantly with three different plant products concentrations. The mortality was high with seed extract of Neem (Azadirachta indica) and is ranging from 84.81 ± 2.7 to 93.65 ±3.25 per cent at different concentrations. Tulasi (Ocimum sanctum) leaf extract of different concentrations showed moderate larval mortality for different instars ranging from 65.36 ±4.36 to 73.41± 4.46 percent. The corresponding mortality for Pongamia (Pongamia pinnata) seed extract was low 31.10 ± 3.38 to 52.1 ± 19.85. The effects of tulasi were moderate while pongamia caused the lowest mortality. Of the three plant products tested Neem performed better under all the experimental conditions.