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Abstract: The Phorid fly Megaselia (Megaselia) plurispinosa (Lunddeck) (syn. M. (M) halterata (Wood)) and certain flies of the Cecidomyidae are at present the major pests of mushrooms in Britain. The Phorid fly appeared in epidemic numbers in 1953 in the intensive mushroom growing area in West Sussex, and on occasional mushroom farms elsewhere though mainly in the south-eastern counties. Since then it has persisted as a pest and has occured in other parts of the country. The fly does not appear to be attracted by the manure heap but lays its eggs in the compost as soon as mushroom mycelium is present. Heavy attacks just after spawning can seriously reduce the growth of mycelium, but once the bed is well run the pest is less harmful unless it occurs in very large numbers — observations have suggested that a bed 6 inches deep may support 1,000 larvae per sp. ft. before serious crop reduction occurs. The life cycle occupies 6-8 weeks in winter and 3-4 weeks in summer, and the larvae, which feed for one or two weeks, attack the mycelium but not the mushroom itself.
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