Studies on Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) and its Damage to the Edible Fungi

This paper reports on the aggressive behavior of Tyrophagus putrescentive (Schrank) and its damage to edible fungi in Fujian Province. The results investigated in 1983-1987 are summarized as follows: Many fruit bodies of mushroom are damaged seriously by the T.putrescentiae such as Agricus bispora. Lentinus edodes. Pleurotus sajor. Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus. It prefer to eat cap gill of P. sajar and P. ostreatus, especially their spores. We designed a special feed-room to rear this mite and studied its life habits to damage mushrooms. It lives and reproduces under the cap of little folds so the damaged caps are frequently destroyed. The experiments showed that to treat culture materials by boiling water is the best method to control this mite.