How to control fungus gnats on lingzhi? The latest methods are here
Fungus gnats are also known as lingzhi gnats. There are more than 10 species of fungus gnats that harm lingzhi, with the Fujian lingzhi Bradysia sp. (Bradysia sp.) and the small fungus gnat being relatively common. The adult Fujian lingzhi Bradysia sp. is dark brown with a darker head and a body length of 2-4 mm. The adult small fungus gnat is light brown with a darker head and a body length of 4-6 mm. Let us take a look at the control methods for lingzhi fungus gnats below!
Occurrence patterns of lingzhi fungus gnats
The peak emergence period of adult fungus gnats is from March to April and from October to November, and they have a strong tendency to be attracted to decaying matter and light. Most eggs of the adults are laid on the surface of gaps in the growing substrate and on the casing soil, and are rarely laid on the lingzhi fruiting body. Larvae prefer to be active at temperatures of 15-28°C, where they grow and develop well. Mature larvae mostly make chambers and pupate in gaps in the soil layer or in the growing substrate. Fungus gnats have omnivorous feeding habits and prefer humus, and often gather in unclean places such as garbage, waste material, dead lingzhi, and old roots.
Symptoms of lingzhi fungus gnat damage
The eggs, larvae, and pupae of fungus gnats mainly enter the mushroom bed with the growing substrate or casing soil, while adults fly directly into the lingzhi house to reproduce and lay eggs. Adult fungus gnats do not directly harm the lingzhi, but they often carry pathogens, nematodes, and mites into and out of the lingzhi house. The larvae harm the mycelium and fruiting bodies of the lingzhi, mostly crawling among the hyphae and biting and feeding on them, causing the growing substrate to turn black, become loose, and sink, and the mycelium to change from white to yellow-brown, making it difficult for lingzhi to emerge. After the lingzhi emerges, the larvae feed from the base of the stipe and gradually bore into the interior of the fruiting body, with the primordia and young lingzhi suffering the most severe damage. In areas with large insect populations, the development of young lingzhi is inhibited, and the damaged lingzhi turns brown and becomes leathery, or the stipe is bored hollow in clusters, causing the damaged lingzhi to become soft and spongy and finally rot.
Control methods for lingzhi fungus gnats
1. Do a good job of environmental sanitation inside and outside the lingzhi house to effectively reduce insect sources.
2. Install 60-mesh gauze on the doors, windows, and ventilation openings of the lingzhi house. It is best to coat the gauze with a long-acting drug that repels and kills mosquitoes and flies, so as to block adult Fujian lingzhi Bradysia sp. from migrating into the room.
3. During the cultivation period, the daily management work of the lingzhi house should be arranged during the daytime as much as possible. On the principle of ensuring working light, the number of times and the duration of indoor lighting should be reduced. During the activity period of the adults, use black light lamps or incandescent lamps for day-and-night trapping and killing to reduce the number of adults and control the amount of egg laying.
4. Before the growing substrate enters the room, 40% diazinon emulsifiable concentrate can be mixed into the material while turning the pile, covered with film and sealed for treatment for 1-2 days, using 0.1 kg of the pesticide per ton of growing substrate. The same pesticide can also be used as a 1000-1200 times dilution for spray treatment of the lingzhi house, bed frames, and casing soil. During the peak emergence period of adults, 80% dichlorvos at a 1000 times dilution can be used for space spraying. When larvae damage occurs on the mushroom bed, when there is no lingzhi on the bed surface, 2.5% cypermethrin at a 1500-2000 times dilution or 50% malathion at a 1500-2000 times dilution can be used for spray treatment.