Comparison of the efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes for the biological control of the mushroom pests Lycoriella auripila (Sciaridae) and Megaselia halterata (Phoridae)

Abstract

The efficacy of different species of entomopathogenic nematodes was tested against larvae of the mushroom phorid Megaselia halterata (Diptera: Phoridae) and the mushroom sciarid Lycoriella auripila (Diptera: Sciaridae). Sciarid larvae originating from infestations in casing soil during colonization by Agaricus bisporus were almost completely controlled by applications of Steinernema feltiae to the casing soil. When larvae originated from infestations in freshly spawned compost, they could be controlled by compost applications halfway through spawn-running and by very early casing treatments. The control of phorids in compost was maximally 31% when nematodes were mixed within the infested compost at a concentration of 3 x 106 nematodes/m2. Only slightly higher reduction rates were obtained at higher concentrations. The control of phorids was more promising in the infested casing layer, in which S. carpocapsae was most successful. At concentrations of 6 and 15 x 106 nematodes/m2 this species obtained reduction rates of 65 and 73% respectively when it was applied 3 days after the end of the infestation period. These concentrations are, however, too high for practical application.