Fungus Gnats Diptera: Sciaridae Potential Concerns Associated with Fungus Gnats

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Fungus Gnats Diptera: Sciaridae Potential Concerns Associated with Fungus Gnats

Photograph courtesy of David Cappaert, Michigan State University Fungus Gnats Diptera: Sciaridae Potential Concerns Associated with Fungus Gnats • Nuisance problems with adults in vicinity of infested plants • Some root feeding by larvae – Wounding may allow colonization of roots by rot rotting fungi Adult fungus gnats Fungus gnats on sticky card Fungus gnat life cycle Figure credit: Raymond Cloyd, Kansas State University Adult fungus gnats usually live for only 4- 5 days. Females lay eggs in soil cracks along surface. Photograph courtesy of Raymond Cloyd, Kansas State University Fungus gnat larvae require 3-4 weeks or more before being full grown. They primarily eat fungi and decaying plant matter. Fungus gnat larvae on a potato slice Springtails Fungus Gnat – Cultural Controls • Reduce watering frequency • Eliminate sources of decaying vegetation Fungus Gnats Biological Controls (Larvae) • Soil predator mite (Stratiolaelaps scimitus) • Entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema feltiae) • Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis Fungus Gnats Biological Controls (Larvae) • Soil predator mite, Stratiolaelaps scimitus (= Hypoaspsis miles) Bacillus thuringiensis • Derived from a widely distributed soil bacterium • Active ingredient a toxic protein crystal that destroys cells of the midgut • Used as a stomach poison Several strains are present, each with specific activity - kurstaki, aizawi strains (leaf feeding Lepidoptera larvae - tenebrionis strain (leaf beetles) - israelensis strain (mosquito, gnat, black fly larvae) Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis strain Can be used as a soil drench to suppress populations of fungus gnat larvae Insect Parasitic Nematodes Steinernema feltiae is a species of nematode that can be used to control soil dwelling fly larvae Steinernema feltiae Used as a soil drench for control of fungus gnat larvae Fungus Gnats Chemical Controls (Larvae) • Imidacloprid • Neem products with azadirachtin (Ornazin, Azatin, Bio-Neem) This is the go-to publication on fungus gnats – done with Kansas State University Small Flies Incidentally Associated with Growing Plants • Fungus gnats (Family Sciaridae) • Shore flies (Family Ephydridae) • Drain flies (Family Psychodidae).

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Sciarid Pests (Diptera: Sciaridae) from Undercover Crop Production in South Africa
Sciarid pests (Diptera: Sciaridae) from undercover AUTHORS: crop production in South Africa Agil Katumanyane1 Aquillah M. Kanzi2 Antoinette P. Malan1 Fungus gnats (sciarids) are among the most important pests in undercover crop production. They cause direct physical damage to plant roots, transfer fungal pathogens and create entry points for soil-borne plant AFFILIATIONS: 1Department of Conservation Ecology pathogens. In 2007, Bradysia impatiens, an important fungus gnat pest was found in association with major and Entomology, Stellenbosch tree nursery beds in the Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces of South Africa and was considered University, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2Department of Biochemistry, invasive. In this study, eight greenhouses were surveyed in the Western Cape Province and B. impatiens was Genetics and Microbiology, Forestry found to be present in all the greenhouses. Similar to the results of the previous studies, a high haplotype and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, diversity was identified for B. impatiens, which may indicate multiple strain introductions into South Africa. Pretoria, South Africa Two other fungus gnat species, Lycoriella sativae and Lycoriella ingenua – globally important sciarid pests of mushroom cultures – were identified as new from South Africa. Through a laboratory culture, the life cycle of CORRESPONDENCE TO: B. impatiens was observed to be approximately 21 days at 25 °C. Females laid between 100 and 250 eggs. Agil Katumanyane Possible introduction sources include contaminated vegetative material and growth media, thus there maybe EMAIL: need to revise the importation restrictions on these commodities. The identification of two novel species of [email protected] sciarid pests that have only previously been identified in the Holarctic region could further emphasise this need.
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The Fungus Gnats
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Control of Fungus Gnats in Greenhouses with Vectobac (Bacillus Thuringiensis Var. Israelensis)
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Fungus Gnats in the Home
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Darkwinged Fungus Gnat ORCHIDEEN
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