BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF THE TOXIC PEPTIDES FROM VENOM OF BRACON HEBETOR (SAY.) (HYMENOPTERA: BRACONIDAE)

The physiological effects of the venom of ectophagous larval parasitoid, bracon hebetor (say.) (hymenoptera; braconidae) were studied by performing bioassay of microinjections of both heat and protinase k treated venom extract in non-parasitized and synchronized 5th instar larvae of the host greater wax moth galleria mellonella (l.) (lepidoptera: pyralidae), where as pringle's saline solution injected larvae of the host were acted as control. the major effects for artificially envenomated host larvae were observed for their survival and mortality. the biological activity of the venom was evaluated by heat and protinase k treatments. results showed a high level of mortality (70%) of the host larvae by the injections method of crude venom whereas, heat and protease treated venom injections showed non significant mortality of the host, due to protein nature of venom which lost its activity upon treatment with heat and protinase k. this basic information serves as a starting point for assessing in a more comprehensive way the role that the venom of b.hebetor has in the host regulation process.