Insecticidal soap for mushroom flies

Mushroom growers across Australia are all too familiar with the tiny but troublesome sciarid and phorid flies that plague Agaricus bisporus crops.

These pests are more than just a nuisance, they can spread destructive diseases such as Trichoderma and dry bubble.

With few chemical options and the ever-present risk of insecticide resistance developing, the hunt is on for softer, sustainable alternatives to use in an integrated pest management strategy.

Through Hort Innovation project MU22000, the Agriculture Victoria research team have been investigating new and available, ‘soft’ options for fly control on mushrooms farms. In a wonderful example of international synchronicity, both the AgVic team, lead by Dr Aimee McKinnon and the Penn State Mushroom Fly Research Team, lead by Michael Wolfin, have been investigating whether insecticidal PSFA products intended for insect control can suppress mushroom fly populations.