Megaselia halterata
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| Megaselia halterata | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Phoridae |
| Genus: | Megaselia |
| Species: | M. halterata |
| Binomial name | |
| Megaselia halterata (Wood, 1910) | |
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]