Attraction of female fungus gnats, Lycoriella ingenua, to mushroom‐growing substrates and the green mold Trichoderma aggressivum

Abstract

To evaluate the attractiveness of several mushroom‐growing substrates to the female mushroom fly Lycoriella ingenua (Dufour) (Diptera: Sciaridae), a pest of the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus (JE Lange) Emil J Imbach (Agaricales), we developed a two‐choice, static‐flow olfactometer. Behavioral assays using this olfactometer indicated that mushroom compost with A. bisporus mycelia growing in it was not more attractive than compost lacking growing mycelia. We also found that female flies were more attracted to compost lacking A. bisporus mycelia than to the actual commodity, the white button mushroom fruiting bodies. Flies were not, however, attracted to sterilized compost, suggesting the attraction is due to volatiles produced by microbial metabolism in the compost. We also found that female L. ingenua flies were attracted to the mycoparasitic green mold Trichoderma aggressivum Samuels & W Gams (Hypocreales). Flies preferred mushroom compost that had T. aggressivum growing in it over compost lacking T. aggressivum, providing an experimental outcome consistent with the anecdotal belief that L. ingenua flies are vectors of T. aggressivum spores that can infest mushroom‐growing houses.

Attraction, Oviposition and Larval Survival of the Fungus Gnat, Lycoriella ingenua, on Fungal Species Isolated from Adults, Larvae, and Mushroom Compost

“…ingenua than to T . aggressivum , the pestiferous green mold fungus species already shown to be attractive to these females [22]. Among the species we tested, we found none that were more attractive than T .…”

“…ingenua flies were highly attracted to T . aggressivum both in culture and growing on spawned compost [22]. “Spawned compost” refers to mushroom compost that has A .…”

Little effect of delayed mating on fecundity or fertility of female fungus gnats Lycoriella ingenua

“…The culturing methods used to rear the L. ingenua flies for the present study were similar to those described by Cloonan et al (2016a). Briefly, flies were reared on a mixture of phase II mushroom compost, a slow-release nitrogen supplement, brewer's yeast and agar at a ratio of 100 : 1 : 1 : 1 filled in plastic Solo cups (355-mL) (Solo, Mason, Michigan).…”

“…Newly-emerged female L. ingenua flies immediately mate with males (Binns, 1980) making it difficult to obtain virgin females (Cloonan et al, 2016a). Accordingly, L. ingenua pupae were first collected individually from the rearing media and gently placed individually in 10-mL disposable culture tubes (15 × 85 mm) (VWR International, Radnor, Pennsylvania) covered with Parafilm M (Bemis Healthcare Packaging, Oshkosh, Wisconsin).…”

Sciaride Gnat (Diptera: Sciaridae): A Literature Review

“…Agas yang hidup dan berkembang biak di dalam media budidaya jamur akan menjadi hama jamur yaitu makan bagian akar jamur yang menyebabkan penurunan tingkat pertumbuhan jamur dan serangga agas dewasa pada saat berterbangan di dalam kubung akan menganggu aktivitas pekerja. Cloonan et al (2016 ) menyatakan bahwa agas yang datang masuk ke dalam kubung untuk budidaya jamur sebenarnya bukanlah tertarik pada jamurnya tetapi lebih tertarik pada kompos dari media tanam jamur untuk meletakkan telur. Di Indonesia tepatnya di Bandung, dilaporkan bahwa lalat Sciarid Bradysia ocellaris merupakan hama penting pada budidaya jamur tiram dan larvanya berwarna bening (Rostaman dkk., 2007).…”