Glasshouse control of fungus gnats, Bradysia paupera, on fuchsias by Steinernema feltiae

Abstract

Summary- In glasshouse grown fuchsias, SleinernemafelLiae applied by hydraulic sprayer at 780 000 nematodes/ml resulted in a decrease of92 % in the numbers of Bradysia paupera adults emerging from the compost. The nematodes were weU distributed in the poned compost and they persisted in the compost over the 64 day experimental period. Résumé- Contrôle par Steinernema feltiae du moucheron Bradysia paupera surfuchsias cultivés en serre- Steinerne-ma felliae appliqué à j'aide de pulvérisateurs hydrauliques à la dose de 780 000 nématodes/ml sur des fuchsias cultivés en serre provoque une diminution de 92 % du nombre des Bradysia paupera adultes provenant du compost. Les nématodes se répartissent correctement dans le compost et ont persisté pendant les 64 jours qu'a duré l'expérience. Key-words: Entomopathogenic nematodes, Steinernema felliae, sciarids, Bradysia paupera, glasshouses. Sciarid flies commonly infest glasshouse ornamentals where they rapidly increase to levels when serious dam-age may occur. The larvae feed on organic matter, fungi or algae (Freeman, 1983) also on the roots of cuttings and smali plants, tunnelling into their stems (Binns, 1973). Sciarid larvae can damage mature plants and are vectors of bacterial and fungal pathogens (Leath &