Greater wax moths (GWM, Galleria mellonella L.) are important pests of Western honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies. The larval moths feed on wax combs, cast honey bee larval skins, pollen, and some honey, leaving behind a destroyed comb containing moth silk and frass. We used standard protocols to determine how GWM larva consumption of wax comb impacts various food utilization and larval growth parameters. Five larval instars (3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th) were assessed 24 hours after molting from the prior instar stage and 48 hours before molting to the next instar stage. The consumption rate (CR) of wax was lowest for 3rd instar larvae (17.5 ± 0.8 mg consumed/day, mean ± s.e.) and highest for 7th instar larvae (515.4 ± 22.7 mg/day). The relative growth rate (RGR) was lowest for 7th instar larvae (0.05 ± 0.01 mg/day) and highest in 3rd instar larvae (0.16 ± 0.04 mg/day). A similar trend (decrease in response with increase in larval age) was observed for conversion efficiency of ingested food (ECI), conversion efficiency of digested food (ECD), and approximate digestibility (AD). Third instar larvae had significantly higher ECIs, ECDs, and ADs than did all other larval instars. The data can be used to quantify the efficiency with which the GWM larvae assimilate food and utilize it for growth.

中文翻译：

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大蜡蛾（Galleria mellonella L.）对蜂蜡的消耗、消化和利用

大蜡蛾（GWM，Galleria mellonella L.）是西方蜜蜂（Apis mellifera L.）群体的重要害虫。幼虫以蜡梳为食，浇铸蜜蜂幼虫的皮、花粉和一些蜂蜜，留下一个含有蛾丝和碎屑的损坏的梳子。我们使用标准协议来确定蜡梳的 GWM 幼虫消耗如何影响各种食物利用和幼虫生长参数。在前一龄期蜕皮后 24 小时和下一龄期蜕皮前 48 小时对 5 只幼虫（第 3、4、5、6 和 7 日）进行评估。蜡的消耗率 (CR) 在 3 龄幼虫中最低（17.5 ± 0.8 毫克/天，平均值± se），在 7 龄幼虫中最高（515.4 ± 22.7 毫克/天）。7龄幼虫的相对增长率（RGR）最低（0.05±0. 01 毫克/天）和最高的 3 龄幼虫（0.16 ± 0.04 毫克/天）。在摄入食物的转化效率 (ECI)、消化食物的转化效率 (ECD) 和近似消化率 (AD) 方面观察到类似的趋势（随着幼虫年龄的增加而降低）。三龄幼虫的 ECI、ECD 和 AD 显着高于所有其他幼虫龄期。这些数据可用于量化 GWM 幼虫吸收食物并将其用于生长的效率。