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1 July 2005 |
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Beekeepers across the globe can now have access to an organic and natural control
product for one of their biggest out-of-season pests: wax moth. Vita (Europe) Ltd has
just launched B401 (also known as Certan), a biological control that is up to 100%
effective against wax moth, but is harmless to bees, humans and the environment. |
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Wax moths can cause huge problems for beekeepers by decimating honeycombs that
have been put into seasonal storage. B401, a concentrated solution of the microorganism
Bacillus thuringiensis subsp aizawai, kills the wax moth larvae and is easily
applied as a preventative measure by spraying a diluted amount directly onto combs
just before they are put into storage. B401 will be available globally through Vita's
global distributor network. |
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B401 has many advantages over other treatments such as PDCB
(paradichlorobenzene) crystals which are toxic to humans and honeybees and leave
residues in wax and honey. |
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"Wax moth can be an extremely destructive pest and can destroy empty combs in a
very short space of time," explained Dr Max Watkins, Technical Director of Vita. "In
the USA it is estimated that wax moth damage costs the industry more than $5 million
annually. Wax moth is a worldwide pest and causes most damage in areas where
winters are mild." |
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Watkins continued: "We are already receiving many enquiries from Greece and other
countries where several major brands of honey had to be recalled because they
contained unacceptably high levels of paradichlorobenzene. As a completely natural
product that leaves no residues, B401 enables beekeepers to keep their produce pure."
Unlike their larval stages, adult wax moth cause no physical damage to combs but
both adults and larvae can transfer pathogenic bacteria to the wax in their faeces. It is
important to target the larvae as the most destructive and harmful stage of this pest.
B401 acts by producing a natural toxin specific for the moth larvae. The larvae ingest
the spores of B401 which then germinate in the gut and release the toxin which
destroys the gut lining, killing the larvae. The reproductive cycle of the wax moth is
therefore stopped. |
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About Vita (Europe) Ltd |
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Vita (Europe) Ltd is a mite control and honeybee health specialist based in the UK and
operating across the globe. Vita researches, develops, manufactures and markets acaricide
products and is the world's dominant supplier of honeybee health products to the honey and
pollination industries. |
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In the development of new and ecologically-sensitive approaches to mite pest control, Vita
collaborates with universities including Cardiff, Milan, Udine, and institutes including the
Tierhygienisches Institut (Institute of Animal Health) in Freiburg, Germany and the UK
Central Science Laboratory. Vita's innovative research and development work has received
support from the UK Government. |
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Vita's products are available through a network of 40 distributors in 47 countries and have
been registered by more than 60 veterinary authorities. Its product range includes antivarroa
acaricides (ApistanŽ and ApiguardŽ), wax moth controls, and foulbrood
diagnostic kits. All products are designed as elements of Integrated Pest Management
programmes to inhibit the build-up of resistance and wherever possible to use natural
compounds and biological controls that are benign to all but the target pests.
As a result of its primary research of natural control agents, Vita is currently engaged
in new projects exploring mite control in the agricultural, veterinary, and horticultural
industries as well as public health and human allergen control. |
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Vita has purchased the B401 wax moth control product as part of its acquisition of
Swarm SAS, a French company. Swarm will now be known as Vita-Swarm SAS. |
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Wax moths |
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Adult female wax moths (greater and lesser wax moths: Galleria mellonella and
Achroia grisella) fly at night and lay eggs on honeycomb and in tiny crevices in hives.
After a few days the larvae hatch, crawl onto the comb, and begin to feed, damaging
or destroying combs by boring through the cells as they consume cocoons, cast skins,
and pollen. As they chew through the wax, they spin silken galleries for protection,
reducing combs to a mass of debris and dust. They also pollute the combs with faeces,
which may contain pathogenic bacteria and a mass of webbing, rendering what is left
of the wax comb, useless. |
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Media Enquiries |
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Stephen Fleming at Palam Communications
Tel +44 (0) 1635 299116
Email sfleming@palam.co.uk
Web www.palam.co.uk |
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General Enquiries |
Jeremy Owen
Vita (Europe) Ltd
Tel +44 (0)1256 473 176
Email j.owen@vita-europe.com
Web www.vita-europe.com |
