Abstract
Dacne picta Crotch (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) is a known pest of log-grown shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes). However, adult beetles, which feed on the mushroom fruiting bodies, have recently been observed in sawdust-based cultivation facilities. We examined the growth of D. picta larvae fed on shiitake mycelial blocks. The effect of irrigation frequency and water quantity on larval survival and development were investigated and a pest control protocol was formulated. The larvae developed into adults after feeding on fruiting bodies and mycelial blocks, indicating that they were capable of consuming the mycelial blocks used in the cultivation facilities. Larval survival, rate of development, and adult size could be decreased by controlling the irrigation regime. Moreover, flooding killed approximately 80% of larvae feeding on the mycelial blocks. These results suggest that irrigation frequency and quantity could potentially be used to reduce damage by D. picta.
