Abstract
We examined the oviposition preference of darkwinged fungus gnats, Bradysia spp., on 14 Trifolium cultivars representing seven species and seedling mortality following fungus gnat larval feeding. Variation in fungus gnat oviposition preference was detected for interspecific Trifolium cultivars but not for intraspecific cultivars. In a replicated free-choice greenhouse test, subterranean clover, T. subterraneum L., was preferred significantly over other tested species, followed by crimson clover, T. incarnatum L.; arrow leaf clover, T. vesiculosum Savi; red clover, T. pretense L.; kura clover, T. ambiguum Bieb.; white clover, T. repens L.; and ball clover, T. nigrescens Viv. All Trifolium species were susceptible to feeding by fungus gnat larvae; we have also observed the death of 20 white clover seedlings by as few as six fungus gnat larvae. Fungus gnats may pose a serious threat to cool-season pasture legumes. Field surveys and population studies are needed to determine the importance of fungus gnat feeding in reducing the pasture persistence of cool and warm-season forage legumes.
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