Use of Natural plant products in the management of the greater wax moth, G. mellonella L. under laboratory conditions was carried out. The results revealed that the larval mortality of wax moth varied significantly with three different plant products concentrations. The mortality was high with seed extract of Neem (Azadirachta indica) and is ranging from 84.81 ± 2.7 to 93.65 ±3.25 per cent at different concentrations. Tulasi (Ocimum sanctum) leaf extract of different concentrations showed moderate larval mortality for different instars ranging from 65.36 ± 4.36 to 73.41± 4.46 percent. The corresponding mortality for Pongamia (Pongamia pinnata) seed extract was low 31.10 ± 3.38 to 52.1 ± 19.85. The effects of tulasi were moderate while pongamia caused the lowest mortality. Of the three plant products tested Neem performed better under all the experimental conditions.

Antimicrobial activity of crude venom extracts from different honeybee species was tested against selected pathogens. Toxicity of bee venom is known to man since ages, which varies from mild inflammations to death. Bee venom is synthesized in the venom glands of worker bees and queen and is stored in the venom sac. In the present study the toxic potentialities of honeybee venom pertaining to different honeybee species Apis cerana, Apis dorsata and Apis florea was carried out in vitro on selected species of bacteria and fungi. The selected bacteria and fungal species were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Xanthomonas subtilis, Proteus vulgaris, Salmonella typhimurium and Candida albicans. They were collected from St. John Medical College, Bangalore. The antimicrobial activity of different species of Apis bee venom (ABV) was studied by Disc Diffusion Assay. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using Broth dilution method at lowest dilution (0.5 mg/ml). Bacterial growth was assessed by the measurement of inhibitory zone. The order of susceptibility of the pathogens against the ABV recorded was: A. cerana > Apis dorsata> Apis florea. The results showed that, ABV has significant antimicrobial effects and could be a potential alternative antibiotic.

Two glands associated with the sting apparatus of worker honey bees produce venom. The aim of this study was to analyse the size and morphometrics of the sting apparatus of worker bees of four Apis species. The sting apparatus consists of a venom gland, venom sac or venom reservoir and sting. These structures are located in the posterior region of the abdomen between the rectum and ovaries. The venom gland is a long tubular filamentous region (acid gland) connected to a reservoir at its proximal region in which the venom is stored. The distal end of the reservoir or venom sac is connected to the bulb of the sting, which leads into the venom canal present inside the shaft of the sting.Little variation was observed in the morphology of the sting apparatus of the different Apis species, although significant variations were found in the length and width of the different parts of sting apparatus.Estudio morfométrico comparativo del aparato picador en abejas obreras de cuatro especies diferentes (Apis dorsata, Apis mellifera, Apis cerana, Apis florea) ResumenDos glándulas asociadas con el aparato picador de las abejas obreras son las que producen el veneno. El objetivo de este estudio fue el de analizar el tamaño y la morfometría del aparato picador de las abejas obreras de cuatro especies de Apis. El aparato picador consiste en una glándula secretora de veneno, un saco o reservorio de veneno y el aguijón. Estas estructuras se encuentran en la región posterior del abdomen, entre el recto y los ovarios. La glándula del veneno es una larga región tubular filamentosa (glándula ácida) conectada en su región proximal a un depósito donde el veneno es almacenado. El extremo distal del saco o depósito de veneno está conectado al bulbo del aguijón, que conduce al canal del veneno presente en el interior del aguijón. Se ha observado escasa variación en la morfología del aparato picador de las diferentes especies de Apis, aunque se encontraron variaciones significativas en la longitud y anchura de las diferentes partes del aparato picador.

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Faffa Malan Chart (FAMACHA © ) is a practical on-farm system designed as selective deworming tool for Haemonchus contortus infection control. While system is becoming very popular it is not adopted in Ethiopia. Thus, the objective of this study was to validate FAMACHA © in detecting clinical anemia in sheep and goats at field level. The study was conducted in Jigjiga zone of Somali Regional State, Ethiopia from December 2011 to April 2012 on sheep (n = 192) and goats (n = 192) of various age and sex. Highly significant correlation between eye color and fecal egg count (p = 0.001) for goats and sheep (p = 0.043) was observed. There was also highly significant association between eye color and Packed Cell Volume (PCV) in sheep (p = 0.00) and goats (p = 0.005). The sensitivity of FAMACHA in detecting anemic animals was 66% for sheep and 71.43% for goats using eye scores 4 and 5 were considered as anemic at PCV <24% for sheep and <20% for goats. The present study indicated that the application of FAMACHA system for treatment protocol was promising both in goats and sheep. Therefore, the technique should be introduced as integrated diagnostic tool at field level in Ethiopia.