Greater Wax Moth Galleria Mellonella (lepidoptera: Pyralidae) As a Resistant Model Host for Nosema Pyrausta (microsporidia: Nosematidae).

Galleria mellonella fed 3 million Nosema pyrausta spores per larva showed 0 and 5% infestation rate at 30 degrees C and 24 degrees C, respectively. N. pyrausta virulence did not increase after passage through G. mellonella for three generations. When larvae were pretreated with phenylthiourea, Bacillus thuringiensis or combination of both, infection rates were 11%, 15% and 22%, respectively. Injection of untreated and potassium hydroxide-primed spores resulted in approximately 10% and 50% infection, respectively. G. mellonella is resistant to high dosages of N. pyrausta spores, serving as a prospective model of insect resistance to microsporidia, while host immunosuppression and/or spore activation increases success of the pathogen.