Identification and Control of the Ganoderma Pest Mezira membranacea

Mezira membranacea (Fabr.) belongs to the order Hemiptera, family Aradidae.

1. Morphology and habits: Adults are 9-12 mm long, black, with the head extending forward and forked at the tip. Antennae are raised, with 4 segments. The lateral margins of the pronotum bulge slightly, with 4 irregular elevations on the anterior half, and the posterior margin distinctly curved at the center. The hemelytra reach the last abdominal segment, and the genital segment is exposed. The membranous area is particularly large. The rostrum is short and brown, extending to the posterior margin of the open rostral groove. Females are larger than males.

Late-instar nymphs and adults exhibit thanatosis, prefer gregarious living, and mainly move and feed underground throughout their entire life cycle. Adults have weak flight ability. They fear light and prefer shade. When disturbed, they eject a foul-smelling liquid from the rear, hence the common name "stink bug."

2. Damage: Adults and nymphs move around Ganoderma log sections or mushroom sticks under the casing soil, damaging Ganoderma mycelium, affecting normal fruiting body development, and in severe cases causing total crop loss.

3. Control methods

(1) Fields planted with Ganoderma should be rotated with other crops to reduce pest sources.

(2) This insect has the habit of hiding and overwintering in groups under wood chips and bamboo strips close to the soil surface inside Ganoderma sheds. Before overwintering, place wood blocks or bamboo strips around the inside of the Ganoderma shed to attract them, and before adult activity the following year, collect and burn them.

(3) After each flush of Ganoderma is harvested in mid-July and late July, irrigate to force the insects to crawl out of the soil surface, then spray the bed surface with 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution plus 5.7% betacyfluthrin emulsifiable concentrate at 2000 times dilution and cover with plastic film to kill them. When the infestation is severe, repeat the spray once after 7 days.