Pesticide Screening
The judicious use of chemical insecticides remains an important part of an Integrated Pest Management programs. However, mushroom farmers have limited options for controlling mushroom flies because chemical control options have been restricted by regulations due to environmental, food, and farm worker safety concerns. Thus, pesticide screening and label extension research are an important lines of research to support the needs of the mushroom industry.
Insecticidal Dust Screening
Experimental Design
Insecticidal dusts were applied to cone exposure arenas made of electrostatic screening. Flies were aspirated into cone arenas and exposed to insecticidal dusts for one minute. After the one minute exposure time, flies were transferred to release cages and mortality was recorded immediately, 1 hour post exposure, and 24 hours post exposure.
Sciarid Mortality
Insecticidal dusts were less effective against sciarids than they were against the phorids. However, EcoVia WD was effective against both flies, making it an excellent candidate to test in the field.
Studies are ongoing to pursue label extensions for insecticidal dusts for use on farms.
Aerosol Insecticide Screening
Experimental Design
Exposure arenas were prepared by poking holes in plastic deli cups, and applying aerosol pesticides at their maximum label rate. Flies were exposed in the arenas for 1 minute, and transferred to release cages. Mortality was recorded after 1 hour and 24 hours post exposure. Exposure arenas were stored in a fume hood for 14 days and were retested to observe the residual efficacy.
Phorid Mortality
(Day 0)
EcoVia CA, CB-80, D-Force, and Precor 2625 were effective at controlling mushroom phorid flies in laboratory tests on Day 0 after a 1 minute exposure time.
(Day 14)
CB-80Â and Precor 2625 remained effective at controlling mushroom phorid flies in laboratory tests on Day 14.
Sciarid Mortality
(Day 0)
EcoVia CA, CB-80, D-Force, and Precor 2625 were also effective at controlling sciarid flies in laboratory tests on Day 0 after a 1 minute exposure time.
(Day 14)
EcoVia and Precor 2625 remained effective at controlling sciarid flies in laboratory tests on Day 14.
Precor 2625 is approved for residential use, meaning stakeholders experiencing fly invasions can use this product (following all label instructions). CB-80 and EcoVia CA are approved for use on farms. Experiments are ongoing to use these pesticides on farms to control mushroom flies. Work is ongoing to obtain label extensions for effective pesticides that cannot yet be used on farms.
Interested in screening assays? Click below to see how these pesticides were are being used in field trials, and to learn about screening assays on plant-derived insecticides.