An integrated approach to the control of Lycoriella solani (Diptera:Sciaridae) during production of the cultivated mushroom (Agaricus bisporus)

Individual and combined effects of light‐trapping, biological and chemical control on Lycoriella solani (Winnertz) populations in experimental mushroom production cubicles were examined. During three weeks following the introduction of recorded numbers of adult L solani into experimental cubicles, light‐traps caught a maximum 74% of flies initially released. However, light‐trapping stimulated adult fly activity and immature stages in the growing substrate throughout the experiment. Consequently, no yield improvements, independently or in combination with biological control agents, were recorded. Incorporation of diazinon (25 mg AI kg⁻¹) to compost following pasteurisation did not significantly reduce subsequent emergence of adult sciarids. Additional drench application of diflubenzuron (1 g AI m⁻²) to the casing layer reduced the number of immature sciarids during the first cropping period by 99% (P < 0.001). However, inclusion of chemical insecticides reduced the mushroom yield during this period by 14% (P < 0.001). Introduction of the predatory mite Hypoaspis miles (Berlese) to the compost during its colonisation by mycelium of Agaricus bisporus (Lange) reduced emergence of adult sciarids by 87% (P < 0.05). Later introduction of H miles at the beginning of the case‐run period was less effective. Application of the parasitic nematode, Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev (=S bibionis Bovien, after Poinar, 1990)) to the compost during its colonisation by mycelium of A bisporus had no immediate effect on sciarid emergence and provided only limited reduction at later crop stages. Similar application immediately after casing reduced sciarid emergence at first flush by 82% (P < 0.05). Irrespective of application time, a formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) var israeliensis had no significant effect on sciarid emergence or mushroom yields at any production stage. © Crown copyright 2000. Reproduced with the permission of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The development of integrated pest management for the control of mushroom sciarid flies,Lycoriella ingenua (Dufour) and Bradysia ocellaris (Comstock), in cultivated mushrooms

Mushrooms are susceptible to a range of diseases and pests that can cause serious crop loss. Effective pest and pathogen control is a very important factor for the maintenance of efficient production of cultivated mushrooms. Integrated pest management in mushrooms is reliant upon four main principals/elements: sanitation, exclusion, monitoring and pest control. Bradysia ocellaris (Comstock) and Lycoriella ingenua (Dufour) (Diptera: Sciaridae) are major pests of cultivated mushrooms, Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach. These pests cause losses in yield through larval damage of the compost, mycelium and sporophores, and affect the structural features of the compost itself. Adult flies of these species also act as vectors for the introduction of mites and fungal diseases in cultivated mushrooms. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Evaluation of medium treatments for management of Frankliniella occidentalis (Thripidae: Thysanoptera) and Bradysia coprophila (Diptera: Sciaridae)

Two greenhouse experiments, each comprising two trials, were conducted to evaluate medium drenches of insect growth regulators and conventional insecticides to reduce emergence of adult western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), and fungus gnats, Bradysia coprophila (Lintner) from the medium. In the insect growth regulator trials, diflubenzuron and pyriproxyfen provided the greatest reduction in thrips emergence, and fenoxycarb, pyriproxyfen and azadirachtin resulted in the most significant reduction of fungus gnat emergence. Treatments with the contact insecticides, methiocarb and chlorpyrifos, resulted in the greatest reduction of thrips and fungus gnat populations. These data suggest that fungus gnats are susceptible to many compounds used in commercial greenhouse production. Even though medium drenches are not currently used for thrips management, drenches with diflubenzuron, pyriproxyfen, methiocarb and chlorpyrifos could aid in reducing thrips populations in greenhouse management programs. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Biological control of Lycoriella ingenua (Diptera: Sciaridae) in commercial mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) cultivation: a comparison between Hypoaspis miles and Steinernema feltiae

BACKGROUND: Mushroom cultivation may be adversely affected by insect pests, including sciarids (Lycoriella spp.), which were previously controlled by application of chemical pesticides. However, owing to food safety and environmental concerns, availability of pesticides for use during mushroom cultivation has diminished. Consequently, it is imperative to investigate alternative control strategies, not reliant on chemical pesticides, which may be used in an integrated pest management system. RESULTS: Application of the predatory mite Hypoaspis miles Berlese to commercial mushroom‐growing beds at the beginning of spawn run or just prior to casing (830 mites m^?2) significantly reduced immature sciarids, Lycoriella ingenua (Dufour), in the growing substrate and also adult activity towards the conclusion of cropping. A trend towards lower sciarid emergence from substrates and reduced adult sciarid activity was observed following the application of Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev) (1.5 × 10⁶ nematodes m^?2) at casing. No significant treatment effects on mushroom yield were observed. However, contamination of the mushroom crop by adult sciarids increased in untreated controls. Application of H. miles required a 12‐fold increase in labour when compared with application of S. feltiae. CONCLUSION: Contingent upon the development of an effective application system, H. miles has potential for the biological control of sciarids in commercial mushroom production. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis and neonicotinoid insecticides on the fungus gnat Bradysia sp nr. coprophila (Lintner) (Diptera: Sciaridae)

The soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner subsp. israelensis (Bti), the neonicotinoid insecticides dinotefuran, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin and the insect growth regulator pyriproxyfen were evaluated to determine their efficacy against the larval stages of the fungus gnat Bradysia sp nr. coprophila (Lintner) in the laboratory. Treatments were applied as a drench to the growing medium in polypropylene deli containers. The Bti treatments had no effect on either instar tested, whereas all the other compounds negatively affected both the second and third instars. This study demonstrates that the soil bacterium B. thuringiensis var. israelensis may not be active on these larval stages, whereas the neonicotinoid insecticides and the insect growth regulator pyriproxyfen are effective on these stages. The fact that Bti is not effective on the second and third instars of the fungus gnat means that greenhouse producers using this insecticide must make applications before fungus gnat populations build up and before overlapping generations develop.     

Persistence and residual activity of an organophosphate, pirimiphos-methyl, and three IGRs, hexaflumuron, teflubenzuron and pyriproxyfen, against the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

Three insect growth regulators (IGR), the chitin synthesis inhibitors (CSI) teflubenzuron and hexaflumuron and the juvenile hormone mimic (JHM) pyriproxyfen, as well as the organophosphate (OP) pirimiphos-methyl, were evaluated for their activity against the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (F), in cowpea seeds stored for up to 8 months post-treatment. The initial activity data showed that, based on LC50 level, teflubenzuron had strong ovicidal activity (LC50 = 0.056 mg kg(-1)) followed by pirimiphos-methyl (1.82 mg kg(-1)) and pyriproxyfen (91.9 mg kg(-1)). The residual activity data showed that none of the IGRs tested had strong activity when applied at 200 mg kg(-1) in reducing the oviposition rates of C maculatus at various storage intervals up to 8 months post-treatment. However, teflubenzuron reduced adult emergence (F1 progeny), achieving control ranging from 96.2% at 1 month to 94.3% at 8 months. Hexaflumuron showed a similar trend in its residual activity, ranging between 93.8% control at 1 month to 88.2% control at 8 months post-treatment. However, pyriproxyfen was more active than the CSIs tested and caused complete suppression (100% control) of adult emergence at all storage intervals. Unlike the IGRs tested, pirimiphos-methyl applied at 25 mg kg(-1) was more effective in reducing oviposition rates of C maculatus up to 8 months post-treatment. A strong reduction of adult emergence was also observed at various bimonthly intervals (98.6% control at 1 month to 91.6% control at 8 months post-treatment). The persistence of hexaflumuron and pirimiphos-methyl in cowpea seeds was also studied over a period of 8 months. The loss of hexaflumuron residue in treated cowpeas (200 mg kg(-1)) was very slow during the first month post-treatment (4.43%). At the end of 8 months, the residue level had declined significantly to 46.4% of the initial applied rate. The loss of pirimiphos-methyl residue in treated cowpeas (25 mg kg(-1)) was relatively high during the first month post-treatment (36.7%) and increased to 81.6% after 8 months.     

Comparative laboratory evaluation of the acute and chronic toxicology of diflubenzuron,hexaflumuron and teflubenzuron against II instar desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

The acute and chronic toxicities of three benzoylphenyl ureas, diflubenzuron, hexaflumuron and teflubenzuron were assessed under laboratory conditions against two-day-old second (II) instar Desert Locust, Schistocerca gregaria (ForskÅl) nymphs. Following exposure by ingestion of a single precise dose applied to short pieces of spring barley, nymphs were monitored for two moults until the fourth (IV) instar. Analysis of acute response data gave three significantly different LD₅₀ statistics (P < 0·05), 68·0, 26·6 and 0·71 μg per nymph respectively for diflubenzuron, hexaflumuron and teflubenzuron. The probit regression slopes also differed significantly, indicating distinct tolerance distributions for the three compounds, the narrowest response being to diflubenzuron and the widest range of response being to teflubenzuron. The timing of death was found to vary between the compounds; most nymphs died during the first moult following treatment with either hexaflumuron or teflubenzuron. However, the majority of nymphs that died after exposure to diflubenzuron did so after completing the first moult after treatment, but before the second. The mean development times of nymphs during the II and especially third (III) instars were significantly longer (P < 0·05) than those of the controls following exposure to diflubenzuron and hexaflumuron. Teflubenzuron had no significant effect (P < 0·05) on the duration of the II instar. The potential of the three compounds to control S. gregaria populations in the field is discussed with particular reference to the timing and nature of acute and chronic responses.     

Effectiveness of field-exposed attract-and-kill devices against the adults of Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae): a study on duration,form and storage

BACKGROUND

The Japanese beetle Popillia japonica Newman is an insect pest native to Japan that has spread into North America, the Azores and, recently, into continental Europe. Here, we present a study assessing the effectiveness of a long-lasting insecticide-treated net (LLIN), assembled in semiochemical-baited attract-and-kill devices (A&Ks) as a low environmental impact means to control P. japonica in the field. We compared the attractiveness of three different forms of A&Ks that were left outdoors throughout the summer, and the residence time of P. japonica landing on them. Moreover, we performed a preliminary study testing the effectiveness of new LLINs after storage. Collected data also allowed us to investigate the beetles' diel flight patterns in relation to meteorological conditions.

RESULTS

Killing effectiveness of the field-exposed A&Ks declined steadily over the flight season (from 100% to 37.5%) associated with a decrease in residues of α-cypermethrin, the active ingredient in the LLINs. The different A&K forms (pyramidal, octahedral and ellipsoidal) attracted similar numbers of beetles. Individual beetles' residence time ranged from 75 to 95 s and differed slightly between A&K forms. Effectiveness of LLINs decreased by ≈30% after 1 year storage. Based on numbers landing on A&Ks, the beetles' flight activity peaked about 14:30 h and was inversely correlated with relative humidity.

CONCLUSION

This study indicates that semiochemical-baited A&Ks are effective for controlling P. japonica in the field. Because of active ingredient decay, the LLINs should be replaced after 30–40 days of field exposure to ensure that the A&Ks remain fully functional. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.