Content of saccharides and activity of alpha-glycosidases in Galleria mellonella larvae infected with entomopathogenic nematodes Heterorhabditis zealandica.

Concentration of glycogen, maltose, and trehalose as well as the activity of hydrolases catabolising them: alpha-amylases, glucoamylase, maltase, and trehalase were studied during a 48 h infection of Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera) instar larvae infected with infective Heterorhabditis zealandica (20 nematodes/insect). The content of trehalose in the infected insects during the first day of infection was higher (p < 0.05) than in the controls. The concentration of maltose and glycogen were similar in both groups despite the fact that the activity of all examined alpha-glycosidases was generally much higher in the infected insects than in the controls.