Abstract
Lycoriella mali (Fitch) populations were exposed to mushroom compost that contained mushroom mycelium growth of various ages to determine whether the suitability of the compost for fly development was affected. It was found that unspawned compost was infested by flies and other invertebrate pests and that the more the compost was colonized by mushroom mycelium, the fewer the L. mali produced. The reduction in flies was greatest after 12 days of mycelium growth. The type of compost apparently affected its suitability for fly development. Also, freshly made compost was less suitable for L. mali than aged compost. Large numbers of mites and nematodes were associated with fly infestations. This demonstration of the vulnerability of uncolonized mushroom compost to invertebrate pest attack could explain the variation in pest populations among different mushroom-growing facilities.
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