Megaselia halterata explained

The mushroom phorid fly (Megaselia halterata) is a species of scuttle fly or hump-backed flies in the family Phoridae. "The mushroom phorid" is also used to refer to M. halterata.^[1] Megaselia halterata is a common pest of mushroom cultivation, attracted by the aroma of developing fungal mycelium. The larvae damage both the mushroom mycelium and gill tissues.^[2] Megaslia halterata can be found worldwide.^[3]

Megaselia halterata is an important pest of mushroom cultivation, capable of severely limiting mushroom yield. Megaselia are naturally infected by Howardula nematodes,^[4] however entomopathogenic nematodes do not readily control M. halterata.^{[5] [6]}

Physical appearance

Adult mushroom phorid flies are 2-3mm in length with a blackish-brown color. Their antennae are short, with only three segments. Belonging to the "Hump-backed flies" (Phoridae), they have a prominent-looking back side^[7]

See also

• Megaselia scalaris, a related species used in forensic entomology

Notes and References

1. Baker et al. 2019. Pennsylvania State University Fact Sheet. https://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/phorid-flies-mushroom
2. Johal . Kuldip . Disney . R. H. L. . Phoridae (Diptera) as pests of cultivated oyster mushrooms (Agaricales: Pleurotaceae) in India . Bulletin of Entomological Research . 1994 . 84 . 2 . 247–254 . 10.1017/S0007485300039754 .
3. Baker et al. 2019. Pennsylvania State University Fact Sheet. https://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/phorid-flies-mushroom
4. Rinker . D. L. . Snetsinger . R. J. . Damage Threshold to a Commercial Mushroom by a Mushroom-Infesting Phorid (Diptera: Phoridae) . Journal of Economic Entomology . 1 April 1984 . 77 . 2 . 449–453 . 10.1093/jee/77.2.449 .
5. Scheepmaker . J.W.A. . Geels . F.P. . van Griensven . L.J.L.D. . Smits . P.H. . Susceptibility of larvae of the mushroom fly Megaselia halterata to the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae in bioassays . BioControl . 1998 . 43 . 2 . 201–214 . 10.1023/A:1009954401065 . 37370189 .
6. Navarro . María Jesús . Gea . Francisco José . Entomopathogenic nematodes for the control of phorid and sciarid flies in mushroom crops . Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira . January 2014 . 49 . 1 . 11–17 . 10.1590/S0100-204X2014000100002 . free .
7. Navarro. María Jesús. Escudero-Colomar. Lucía Adriana. Carrasco. Jaime. Gea. Francisco José. September 2021. Mushroom Phorid Flies-A Review. Agronomy. 11. 10. 1958. 10.3390/agronomy11101958. free.