title: Mushroom host influence on Lycoriella mali (Diptera: Sciaridae) life cycle.
abstract: Lycoriella mali Fitch (Diptera: Sciaridae) infests mushroom crops early in the crop cycle. Recent observations in mushroom houses indicated a difference in emergence time and size of adult L. mali developing on various strains of commercial mushrooms. Samples of adult flies from isolated mushroom houses growing Portabella mushrooms were significantly heavier then those from oyster mushroom houses, whereas flies from shiitake mushroom houses were lightest in weight. Flies collected from isolated Portabella mushroom houses were reared on four strains and species of Agaricus and Pleurotus mushrooms. After the adults emerged, females were weighed, mated, and allowed to oviposit. The number of eggs laid increased as the weight of the female increased. Flies collected from isolated Portabella mushroom houses were reared on eight strains and species of mushrooms. Flies were reared for four generations on each host mushroom mycelium then switched to different host mushrooms. Overall, the hybrid strain of Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach (Agaricales: Agaricomycetideae) was the most favorable host for L. mali, whereas the wild strain of A. bisporus was the least favorable host. Mushroom hosts influence developmental time, survivorship, weight, and reproduction of L. mali.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Keil
mesh_terms: D000363:Agaricales; D000364:Agaricus; D000818:Animals; D004175:Diptera / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008297:Male; D020076:Pleurotus; D013045:Species Specificity