Sciarid fungus-gnats as nuisance factor in Pinus timber yards

Abstract

Some Sciaridae species are considered as cosmopolitan pests in greenhouses and mushrooms farms. The potential harm of these insects involves plant tissue damage and transmission of pathogens to the seedlings. Recently, large sciarid masses were found infesting wood log stocking of processing industries and turned to be a severe nuisance factor and a public health issue. The Sciarid specimens from infested areas were identified belonging to the genus Bradysia Winnertz, 1867. These species certainly do not correspond to pests, but to species that are possibly associated to microenvironments generated by the fungi on the wood bark.

Keywords

• Bradysia
• Entomology
• Urban Infestation
• Wood stocking
• Fungus-gnats