The effect of ethanolic extract of Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) on the larval stages of Greater Wax Moth (Galleria mellonella) Lepidoptera

Abstract

The present study was performed in the College Laboratory Center in the Agricultural Engineering Sciences of Duhok university from September 2021 to June 2022, to evaluate the toxic effect of ethanolic extracts of Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) at different concentrations on the larval stages of Greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella, Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The Soxhlet extraction method was used in this study, with five concentrations (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 mg/ml) of the ethanolic plant extract after 24, 48, and 72 hours of exposure. The third, and fifth instar larvae of the insect were examined under the conditions (at 30±1°C and 70±5% R.H). There was a highly significant influence (P < 0.001) on concentrations, affected mortality statistically significant (P < 0.05). The results of stinging nettle extracted at 3.5 mg/ml after 72 hours of exposure were obtained and the highest mortality rate recorded on the 3rd and 5th instar larvae which were 96.66 and 86.66% respectively. The ethanolic Nettle Stinging extract was testified to cause morphological deformations in both larval instars of the insect.