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International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms

ISSN for PRINT: 1521-9437

Institutional price:	$538.00
Issues per year:	4

Best Paper Award Selection - Editorial Board Site

2006, Volume8

98 pages

DOI: 10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v8.i1

Issue price - $138.00

European Grain Moth Nemapogon granellus L. (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae)—A New Potential Pest to the Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (W. Curt.:Fr.) P. Karst. (Ling Zhi, Reishi)

Peter Blaeser
Department of Entomology and Plant Protection, Institute for Phytopathology, University of Bonn, Nussalle 9, 53115 Bonn, Germany

Cetin Sengonca
Department of Entomology and Plant Protection, Institute for Phytopathology, University of Bonn, Nussalle 9, 53115 Bonn, Germany

Jan I. Lelley
Institute for Mushroom Research of GAMU Ltd, Hüttenallee 241, 47800 Krefeld, Germany

ABSTRACT

During the cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum, a medicinal mushroom that was already used in TCM at the Institute for Mushroom Research of GAMU Ltd. (Germany), a moth was observed causing significant damage to the shoots of the fungus. The insect was identified as the European grain moth Nemapogon granellus L. (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae). The goal of this work was to investigate the biological and ecological characteristics as well the damage of this insect to G. lucidum, which has not yet been described in the scientific literature. During the investigations it was observed that adult moths laid their eggs in small groups of 6−15 each on the top of the shoots of G. lucidum. Immediately after hatching, the larvae (caterpillars) entered the top of the shoots and remained there during their entire life until the new adults appeared. From the laying of the eggs until the new generation of adults appeared, it took 5−6 weeks. The larvae entered the shoots of G. lucidum and bored straight, narrow ducts downward inside the shoots. The growth of such affected shoots was at first inhibited significantly, later these shoots died. The use of chemicals against the insect cannot be considered because of the use of G. lucidum as medicinal mushrooms as well as the inaccessibility of N. granellus. Protective measurements, on the other hand, such as carefully cleaning the cultivations facilities as well as preventing the entrance of the insects into the cultivation rooms, can help to avoid the damage.