Survey of Arthropod Pests and Evaluation of Management Options in Mushroom Farming in Nairobi Metropolitan Area and Western Kenya Region

Abstract

Mushroom is a highly important crop around the world, with an estimated global production of 27 million tons annually. However, pests and diseases pose significant challenges to mushroom production, as the ideal growing conditions in mushroom cultivation houses attract the pests. This study aimed to investigate the diversity and abundance of arthropod pests associated with cultivated mushrooms, evaluate the effectiveness of entomopathogenic nematodes and insect sticky traps in managing mushroom pests, and establish farmers’ perceptions of mushroom pests. The study was conducted in mushroom farms in the Nairobi metropolitan area and Western Kenya regions. Insect sticky traps and protein-baited traps were used to sample mushroom arthropod pests. Twenty traps were set in each mushroom production room in a randomized experimental design. The effectiveness of Entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema feltiae) and insect sticky traps in managing mushroom arthropod pests was evaluated using a randomized design within the mushroom farms, with three replicates. Using a rapid appraisal method through questionnaires, 38 farmers were interviewed to establish their perception of mushroom pests and the management strategies. Data on pest diversity was analyzed using the Shannon Wiener Diversity Index (H’) in the R statistical package. All data were subjected to One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at p˂ or = 0.05. Data from questionnaires on was analysed using IBM SPSS version 17.00 software. A total of 134,237 specimens of mushroom pests belonging to nine taxonomic orders, eighteen families, twenty-one genera, and thirty-eight species were recorded. Flies were the most abundant pest species, including Lycoriella ingenua (21.2%), Lycoriella mali (11.8%), Megaselia halterata (10.7%), and Bradysia impatiens (7.6%), while slugs, Limax species were the least recorded (0.01%). The Western region had the highest mushroom pest diversity (H’= 2.5), while Nairobi had the least diversity (H’=2.2). The study revealed that pests pose significant challenges to mushrooms farming and flies are the most significant pests in mushroom farms, with ninety-five percent of the interviewed farmers reporting that arthropod pests threaten their crops. The use of sticky traps was found to reduce the population of flies by killing the adults. However, the use of entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema feltiae) did not significantly reduce the emergence and capture of flies during treatment. The study suggested that the use of Entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema feltiae) presents an opportunity for further research to optimize their efficacy in controlling mushroom flies. It also emphasized the need for better farming practices and pest management strategies in mushroom production. Pest exclusion is one effective way to manage pests in mushroom farms. Integrated pest management strategies for mushroom arthropod pests were recommended based on the study’s findings.