Dark-winged fungus gnats (Diptera: Sciaridae) are a common pest of greenhouse ornamental crops, damaging roots directly, by larval phytophagy, or indirectly, by vectoring phytopathogens. A bioassay system was developed to determine the effects of microbial control agents on survivorship of larvae and pupae in soil. Known numbers of larvae were transferred into insect-tight containers supporting plants and peat-based potting medium. The effects of entomopathogenic fungi and plant-pathogen suppressive fungi on fungus gnat survivorship to adulthood were assessed. Implications for biological control programs are discussed.
Species 1: Diptera Sciaridae Bradysia (fungus gnat)
Keywords: entomopathogen, phytopathogen
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