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

Abstract

Summary The nematode Steinernema feltiae (Nematoda: Steinemematidae) 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 F2‐generation of females was similarly controlled (95%) by an application 7 days after casing. A dosage of 1 × 10 6 nematodes m ‐2 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 F2‐generation sciarid larvae. Diflubenzuron did not significantly reduce phorid numbers.