Control of the mushroom pests Lycoriella auripila (Diptera: Sciaridae) and Megaselia halterata (Diptera: Phoridae) by Steinernema feltiae (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) in field experiments

Abstract

The nematode Steinemema feltiae (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) was tested for its ability to control two main mushroom pests i.e. the sciarid Lycoriella auripila (Diptera: Sciaridae) and the phorid Megaselia halterata (Diptera: Phoridae) in growing-rooms filled with spawned compost. A clear difference between female and male sciarid control was observed. A nematode application 1 day after casing preceded by an application 1 day before casing on the compost caused an almost complete control (97%) of the F1-generation of female sciarids. The FZgeneration of females was similarly controlled (95%) by an application 7 days after casing. A dosage of 1 x lo6 nematodes mP2 was found to be equally effective as higher dosages. Diflubenzuron remained active throughout entire the cropping period with high sciarid mortality rates varying from 72% to 99%.Phorid control was variable and seemed to depend on the presence of sciarids. In one occasion the control rate of F2-generation phorid larvae was 75% and was possibly caused by the presence of new infective juvenile nematodes recycled in FZgeneration sciarid larvae. Diflubenzuron did not significantly reduce phorid numbers.

Evaluating the Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Nematodes for the Biological Control of Crop Pests: A Nonequilibrium Approach

“…Hence, nematodes are used for short-term inundative control (Rinker et al 1995). The economic threshold for mushrooms is very low (Scheepmaker et al 1997), so control strategies need to be highly effective; it is here that models can play an important role in determining the optimum method of control. Based on cultures held in our laboratory, we have previously estimated a number of life-history parameters of sciarids.…”

“…As an approximation, we assumed that this decline in fly abundance represents the rate of adult mortality, thereby allowing us to estimate d A directly from the data. To estimate adult mortality rate, we used a least squares method to fit the equation , where Scheepmaker et al (1997). Through this process, we obtained estimates for larval mortality rate of 0.113 and 0.128…”

“…To estimate mortality rates, we use data presented by Scheepmaker et al (1997) comprising two time series of fly abundance over a period of 6 wk in a mushroom house in the absence of nematodes (see fig. 2A, 2B).…”

“…To estimate adult mortality rate, we used a least squares method to fit the equation , where Scheepmaker et al (1997). Through this process, we obtained estimates for larval mortality rate of 0.113 and 0.128Simulations of mean ‫ע‬ SE p 0.121 ‫ע‬ 0.0075 the parameterized model provide a reasonable fit to the data of Scheepmaker et al (1997) in the absence of control ( fig. 2A, 2B).…”

“…It takes approximately 30 d from egg to egg at 21ЊC, with 20 d spent in the preadult stages (T L ). Adults live for a maximum of approximately 10 d (T A ), during which time they lay around 150 eggs (r).To estimate mortality rates, we use data presented by Scheepmaker et al (1997) comprising two time series of fly abundance over a period of 6 wk in a mushroom house in the absence of nematodes (see fig. 2A, 2B).…”