Susceptibility of dried mushrooms (Boletus edulis, Cantharellus cibarius and Agaricus bisporus) to the attack of some storage insect pests (preliminary results)

Abstract: The ability of development of four economically important stored-product insect pests, one lepidopteran (Plodia interpunctella) and three coleopterans (Sitophilus granarius, Rhyzopertha dominica and Tribolium confusum) on dried slices of Boletus edulis, Cantharellus cibarius, and Agaricus bisporus was preliminary observed in laboratory conditions.Into glass jar of 100 ml in volume, 10 g of specific dried mushrooms and 10 beetle adults of the known age, or 10 P. interpunctella 3rd stage larvae, were added, in 12 replications per insect species, with 48 replications in total. The experiment lasted for 13 weeks. Every week, all jars were inspected in search of eggs, larvae, adults, feces and other traces of insect activity. Tested dried mushrooms were unsuitable food for P. interpunctella, S. granarius, and R. dominica, which did not complete their development. Our results confirm available literature data – tested mushrooms are highly resilient to the attack of the tested insect species, except to T. confusum. This insect survived on B. edulis, where the emergence of the 27 new adults was observed. The pesticidal activity of C. cibarius against some storage insect species is already known.Further investigation of the mechanism(s) of resistance of the mushrooms to the infestation by storage insect pests, could be out of significance giving us the potential to discover new sources of harmless natural agents for the protection of stored products.