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Conclusion



Preliminary summary of findings

  • The predatory mite H. miles, has shown potential as a biological control agent against sciarid pests in mushrooms.
  • No deployment method for the mites in mushroom crops has been developed.
  • We have not found any evidence of significant interactions (synergism or antagonism) between predatory mites and entomopathogenic nematodes in suppressing sciarids in mushroom compost.
  • Laboratory experiments suggest that entomopathogenic nematodes of the genus Heterorhabditis may be more effective than S. feltiae in suppressing phorids in mushroom compost. However, the low levels of observed phorid control suggest that the tested Heterorhabditis spp. may not be a commercially viable control option.
  • Further, research is in progress concerning deployment methods of predatory mites against sciarids in mushroom crops and concerning biological control of phorids (with mites and nematodes).
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Research Outputs

  • Jess, S. and Bingham, J.F.W. (2004) Biological control of sciarid and phorid pests of mushroom with predatory mites from the genus Hypoaspis (Acari: Hypoaspidae) and the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae. Bulletin of Entomological Research 94, 159-167.
  • Jess, S. and Kilpatrick, M. (2000) An integrated approach to the control of Lycoriella solani (Diptera: Sciaridae) during production of the cultivated mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) Pest Management Science 56, 477-485.
  • Schweizer, H., S. Jess, M. Kilpatrick. Biological control of Lycoriella ingenua in mushroom crops. Poster presentation, Royal Entomological Society Irish Regional Meeting, Belfast, Northern Ireland, June 17, 2004.
  • Schweizer, H., S. Jess, M. Kilpatrick. Hypoaspis miles as biological control agent of Lycoriella ingenua. Poster presentation, 16th International Congress on the Science and Cultivation of Edible and Medicinal Fungi, Miami, FL, USA, March 14-17, 2004.
  • Schweizer, H,, S. Jess, J. Murray, M. Kilpatrick. Sciarid Control: How do predatory mites compare to Dimilin? Poster presentation, 4th all Ireland mushroom conference & Trade Show, Monaghan, Republic of Ireland, Oct. 16, 2003.
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Further reading

  • Al Amidi, A.H.K. (1995) Occurrence of insects and mites in mushroom compost in Ireland. Science and Cultivation of Edible Fungi. Ed. Elliott, T.J. Rotterdam, Balkema. 2, 539-46.
  • Ali, O., R. Dunne, and P. Brennan. (1997). Biological control of the sciarid fly, Lycoriella solani by the predatory mite, Hypoaspis miles (Acari: Laelapidae) in mushroom crops. Systematic and Applied Acarology 2: 71-80.
  • Cantelo, W.W., Henderson, D., and Argauer, R.J. (1982) Variation in sensitivity of mushroom strains to diazinon compost treatment. Journal of Economic Entomology 75, 123-125.
  • Cantelo, W.W., (1988) Movement of Lycoriella mali (Diptera: Sciaridae) through mushroom-growing medium. Journal of Economic Entomology 81, 195-200.
  • Fenton, A., Gwynn, R.L., Gupta, A., Norman, R., Fairbairn, J.P., and Hudson, P.J. (2002) Optimal application strategies for entomopathogenic nematodes: integrating theoretical and empirical approaches. Journal of Applied Ecology 39, 481-492.
  • Finley, R.J., Wuest, P.J., Royse, D.J., Snetsinger, R., Tetrault, R. and Rinker, D.L. (1984) Mushroom flies. A review of biology and a systems approach for integrated control. Mushroom Journal 139, 240-247.
  • Grewal, P.S. Richardson, P.N., Collins, G. and Edmondson, R.N. (1992) Comparative effects of Steinernema feltiae (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) and insecticides on yield and cropping of the mushroom Agaricus bisporus. Annals of Applied Biology 121, 511-520.
  • Grewal, P.S. and Richardson, P.N. (1993) Effects of application rates of Steinernema feltiae (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) on biological control of the mushroom fly Lycoriella auripila (Diptera: Sciaridae) Biocontrol Science and Technology 3, 29-40.
  • Grewal, P.S., Tomalak, M., Keil, C.B.O. and Gaugler, R. (1993) Evaluation of a genetically selected strain of Steinernema feltiae against the mushroom sciarid Lycoriella mali. Annals of Applied Biology 123, 695-702.
  • Hussey, N.W. (1959) Biology of mushroom phorids. Mushroom Science 4, 260-269.
  • Kielbasa, R. and Snetsinger, R. (1978) Effects of mushroom-growing temperatures and Agaricus bisporus strains on the biology of a mushroom-infesting sciarid, Lycoriella mali. Melsheimer Entomological Series 25, 16-24.
  • Scheepmaker, J.W.A., Geels, F.P., Smits, P.H. and (1997a) Location of immature stages of the mushroom insect pest Megaselia halterata in mushroom-growing medium. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 83, 323-327.
  • Scheepmaker, J.W.A., Geels, F.P., Smits, P.H. and van Griensven, L.G.L.D. (1998b) Influence of Steinernema feltiae and diflubenzuron on yield and economics of the cultivated mushroom Agaricus bisporus in Dutch mushroom culture. Biocontrol Science and Technology 8, 269-275.
  • Scheepmaker, J.W.A., Geels, F.P., Smits, P.H., Rutjens, A.J. and van Griensven, L.G.L.D. (1998c) Comparison of the efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes for the biological control of the mushroom pests Lycoriella auripila (Sciaridae) and Megaselia halterata (Phoridae). Biocontrol Science and Technology 8, 277-288.
  • Smith, J.E. (2002) Dimilin resistance in mushroom sciarids. The Mushroom Journal 626, 15.
  • Smith, J.E. and White, P.F. (1996) Diazinon resistance in mushroom pests. Project News of the Horticultural Development Council 36, 12-15.
  • White, P.F. (1981) Spread of the mushroom disease Verticillium fungicola by Megaselia halterata (Diptera: Phoridae). Protection Ecology 3, 17-24.
  • White, P. F. (1986). The mushroom pest complex - its effect on yield and quality, pp. 301-310. In P. J. Wuest, D. J. Royse and R. B. Beelman [eds.] Cultivating edible fungi. Balkema, Rotterdam.
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