Nieuwe methoden voor bestrijding van bodemplagen in de glastuinbouw en zomerbloemen. Deel 2: Literatuurstudie rouwmuggen (Sciaridae) en oevervliegen (Ephydridae)

This report is a literature study on the biology, behaviour, prevention and biological control of sciarid flies (Sciaridae) and shore flies (Ephydridae). These noxious flies are widely present in greenhouse horticulture. They can cause cosmetic damage to the leaves through their faeces, can carry spores of fungal diseases like Fusarium and Pythium and when reaching large numbers they become annoying to both growers and consumers. Sciarid flies form predominantly a problem in the cultivation of young plants and mushrooms. Their larvae feed primarily on fungi, but can also eat from the roots of many crop species and cause damage. Shore flies feed primarily on algae, and do not directly harm the crop. In this literature review, special attention is given to the effect of the composition of the growing medium on its attractiveness for egg deposition, and its suitability for the development of sciarid flies and shore flies. This information forms the basis of the research that is described in the report ‘New methods for the control of soil pests in greenhouse horticulture and annual flowers: part 3 Attract- and kill strategires for the control of sciarid flies and shore flies.’