An integrated approach to the control ofLycoriella solani (Diptera:Sciaridae) during production of the cultivated mushroom(Agaricus bisporus)

Abstract

Individual and combined effects of light‐trapping, biological and chemical control on Lycoriella solani (Winnertz) populations in experimental mushroom production cubicles were examined. During three weeks following the introduction of recorded numbers of adult L solani into experimental cubicles, light‐traps caught a maximum 74% of flies initially released. However, light‐trapping stimulated adult fly activity and immature stages in the growing substrate throughout the experiment. Consequently, no yield improvements, independently or in combination with biological control agents, were recorded. Incorporation of diazinon (25 mg AI kg−1) to compost following pasteurisation did not significantly reduce subsequent emergence of adult sciarids. Additional drench application of diflubenzuron (1 g AI m−2) to the casing layer reduced the number of immature sciarids during the first cropping period by 99% (P < 0.001). However, inclusion of chemical insecticides reduced the mushroom yield during this period by 14% (P < 0.001). Introduction of the predatory mite Hypoaspis miles (Berlese) to the compost during its colonisation by mycelium of Agaricus bisporus (Lange) reduced emergence of adult sciarids by 87% (P < 0.05). Later introduction of H miles at the beginning of the case‐run period was less effective. Application of the parasitic nematode, Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev (=S bibionis Bovien, after Poinar, 1990)) to the compost during its colonisation by mycelium of A bisporus had no immediate effect on sciarid emergence and provided only limited reduction at later crop stages. Similar application immediately after casing reduced sciarid emergence at first flush by 82% (P < 0.05). Irrespective of application time, a formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) var israeliensis had no significant effect on sciarid emergence or mushroom yields at any production stage. © Crown copyright 2000. Reproduced with the permission of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Evaluation ofStratiolaelaos scimitusandNeoseiulus barkerifor biological control of thrips on greenhouse cucumbers

“…Stratiolaelaos scimitus Berlese (formerly known as Hypoaspis miles Womersley) (Acari: Laelapidae) is being produced commercially for control of glasshouse sciarids (Jess & Kilpatrick, 2000;Wright & Chambers, 1994) and F. occidentalis (Berndt, Meyhofer, & Poehling, 2004;Rahman, Broughton, & Spafford, 2011;Thoeming & Poehling, 2006). Although the potential value of S. scimitus has been tested abroad, this indigenous species in China has not yet been extensively studied and applied (Wang et al, 2009;Wang, Liu, et al, 2010).…”

Microbial Control Agents for Fungus Gnats (Diptera: Sciaridae: Lycoriella) Affecting the Production of Oyster Mushrooms, Pleurotus spp.

“…Erler et al [23] also found Bti ABG-6193 reduced damage by larvae of M. halterata to A. bisporus, and there were no differences in adult emergence compared to substrate treated with chlorpyrifos. In contrast, Jess and Kilpatrick [29] reported Bti (Skeetal ® Novo, Bagsvaerd, Denmark) did not reduce populations of Lycoriella solani (Diptera: Sciaridae) emerging from compost used to grow A. bisporus, nor benefit yield. Our current study indicates Bti could be useful for the protection and production of oyster mushroom crops.…”

“…Studies have documented that treating compost with entomopathogenic nematodes reduces the emergence of fungus gnats affecting the production of A. bisporus, but variability in efficacy has been reported [23,24,27,28,[35][36][37]. For instance, Jess and Kilpatrick [29] demonstrated that application of S. feltiae to compost during the colonization phase by A. bisporus did not immediately reduce sciarid emergence and only resulted in a limited reduction at later crop stages. Yet, an application of S. feltiae immediately after casing of the colonized compost reduced emergence of fungus gnats by 82%.…”

“…Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev) is effective against various fungus gnat species (Sciaridae), including species infesting A. bisporus production facilities [26]. Several studies have demonstrated that treatment of compost with S. feltiae suppresses the emergence of dipteran pests impacting A. bisporus production [23,24,27,28], but other studies found limited or negligible efficacy [29,30]. To date, few studies have assessed the efficacy of S. feltiae for controlling dipteran pests infesting substrates used to grow oyster mushrooms.…”

Manejo integrado de plagas en legumbres almacenadas mediante el uso de atmósferas modificadas y de control biológico

“…Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot, Neoseiulus cucumeris Oudemans (Acari, Phytoseiidae) and Stratiolaelaps scimitus Berlese (Acari, Laelapidae) are commercially available biological control agents for different pests in many vegetable crops grown in open fields and greenhouses(Jess and Kilpatrick 2000;Messelink et al 2006; Guerson and Weintraub 2007). Amblyseius swirskii is able to prey on the eggs of stored pests such as Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Callosobruchus chinensis L. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in the laboratory, and the predator N. cucumeris is able to consume E. kuehniella eggs(Deslise et al 2015; Iturralde et al submitted).…”