Bioassay for evaluating attraction of the phorid fly, Megaselia halterata to compost colonized by the commercial mushroom, Agaricus bisporus and to 1‐octen‐3‐ol and 3‐octanone

Abstract

A bioassay chamber was developed to evaluate the attraction of the phorid fly pest, Megaselia halterata (Wood) (Diptera, Phoridae), to volatiles from mushroom compost colonized by the commercial mushroom, Agaricus bisporus (Fungi, Agaricaceae) and to its volatile constituents, 1‐octen‐3‐ol and 3‐octanone. The bioassay chamber consisted of a large round container which was attached, via glass tubes, to three removable sample cups situated below the container. Once a fly had entered a sample cup, the flatly cut glass tubes prevented the flies from readily returning to the release chamber and, in effect, was a pit fall trap which kept the flies in the cups until the flies were counted. Holes in the bottom of the cups and removal of 20 ml of air from the chamber to fill the entrance tubes with volatiles from the cups were necessary for the success of the bioassay. Mated and unmated female M. halterata and, to a lesser extent, mated males preferred spawned compost (compost well colonized by fungal mycelia) relative to unspawned compost or blank cups. Unmated males were not attracted to spawned compost. Males and females were not attracted to unspawned compost. No attraction of male or female M. halterata to the spawned compost volatiles, 1‐octen‐3‐ol and 3‐octanone, could be demonstrated under various experimental conditions. These two compounds seemed to deter females at high concentrations.

Behavioral and electrophysiological responses of Hylastinus obscurus to volatiles released from the roots of Trifolium pratense L.

“…2), did not elicit behavioral activity except in females exposed to the highest dose. This result agrees with the report of Pfeil and Mumma (1993), who observed that high doses of 3-octanone seemed to produce deterrency in females of the phorid fly, Megaselia halterata. produced the same effect in males at two of the three tested doses.…”

Evolutionarily conserved odorant receptor function questions ecological context of octenol role in mosquitoes

“…It is also used as a compost attractant for the phorid fly, Megaselia halterata 48 and as an avoidance cue for the parasitoid Lariophagus distinguendus 49.…”

Evaluation of the behavioural response of the flies Megaselia halterata and Lycoriella castanescens to different mushroom cultivation materials

“…Both preventive and curative treatments for mushroom flies would be improved if they were based on an in-depth knowledge of fly behaviour. In contrast, in an olfactometer study, mated and unmated female M. halterata showed no attraction to 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanone, and were deterred by high concentrations of these compounds (Pfeil & Mumma, 1993). No studies have been done with sciarid flies.…”

“…There is also pressure on growers from retailers to reduce insecticide use in response to consumer concerns about pesticide residues. For phorid flies, Burrage (1981) and Pfeil & Mumma (1993) demonstrated that female M. halterata are attracted to a spawned composted substrate, but provided conflicting evidence on the attractiveness of mushroom volatile compounds. Both preventive and curative treatments for mushroom flies would be improved if they were based on an in-depth knowledge of fly behaviour.…”