Efficacy of different insecticides against mushroom phorid Fly, Megaselia halterata (Wood) in Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Phorid fly, Megaselia halterata is the most destructive insect pest of mushroom causing serious threat to mushroom production and cultivation in Pakistan. Chemical control is the most effective and quicker approach used by our farming community. So there was a dire need to evaluate some commercial insecticides against this pest. The present study was therefore, conducted to evaluate six commercial insecticides (deltamethrin, spinosad, spintoram, trichlorphon, malathion and permethrin) against phorid fly for three consecutive years (2008 to 2010). The insecticides evaluation was done on the bases of three parameters viz. percent reduction in adult emergence, mushroom damage rate by phorid fly larvae and mushroom yield per unit area. All insecticides caused significant reductions in adult emergence and mushroom damage rates as compared to control. On overall bases, the average of three years data revealed that maximum reduction of adult emergence and minimum damage rate by phorid flies as well as maximum yield per plot was observed in spinosad treated plots, followed by trichlorphon and deltamethrin which were statistically at par. The results of present study showed that deltamethrin, spinosad and trichlorphon may be employed in the field for controlling mushroom phorid fly in Pakistan. Key words: Efficacy, insecticides, Agaricus bisporus, phorid fly.