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

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 × 106nematodes m-2was 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.