Emma Wilson
Mushrooms are a great source of food, but some are poisonous and should be avoided. Bugs and insects are common inhabitants of wild mushrooms and can be removed by soaking them in saltwater or dehydrating them. Some mushroom pests include the Phorid fly, Sciarid fly, and snails and slugs. To prevent mushroom pests, growers can use insecticides or pasteurize the compost. The Cordyceps mushroom is known for infecting and killing insects, and the Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric, has been traditionally used as an insecticide.
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What You'll Learn
Soaking mushrooms in saltwater kills bugs inside
Mushrooms are a great crop for small farms and growing operations as they do not require sunlight and can be grown inside in a carefully controlled environment. However, this carefully controlled environment can also be an ideal breeding ground for pests that can decimate a mushroom crop. The Sciarid fly, also known as the fungus gnat, is one of the most common and damaging insects encountered when growing mushrooms indoors.
To control and eradicate these pests, growers can use insecticides, such as Safer® Brand BioNEEM Insecticide with Neem Oil Concentrate, which disrupts an insect's growth cycle, killing it when it molts. Alternatively, a ready-to-use spray, such as Safer® Brand End ALL® With Neem Oil, can be used to kill hard-bodied and soft-bodied insects on contact.
When it comes to removing bugs from foraged mushrooms, there are several methods that can be used. One popular method is to soak the mushrooms in saltwater, which can effectively kill bugs and larvae that may be inside. This method is particularly suitable for certain types of mushrooms, such as Morels and Oysters, as a short soak in saltwater will not harm their texture. It is recommended to use only a couple of tablespoons of salt per few cups of water and to soak the mushrooms for no more than 5-10 minutes to avoid affecting their texture. After soaking, the mushrooms should be left to dry before use or storage, with the gill side down for oysters. It is important to note that this method may not remove every single bug or larva, and some may still be visible during cooking. Additionally, it is not recommended for mushrooms with pores or fragile mushrooms.
Another method to remove bugs from mushrooms is to slice them thinly, which can kill a significant number of larvae. Hollow mushrooms, such as Morels, can be cut in half and dehydrated, causing the remaining bugs to crawl out and fall off the mushrooms. This method can also be combined with the use of a dehydrator, which can further encourage bugs to leave the mushrooms in search of better conditions. While this method may not remove all bugs and larvae, it is effective in killing a large portion of them.
Overall, while there are various methods to kill bugs inside mushrooms, such as soaking them in saltwater or slicing them thinly, it is important to note that completely bug-free mushrooms may be challenging to achieve.
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Dehydrating mushrooms kills bugs inside
Mushrooms are a great cash crop for small farms and growing operations as they are grown inside and don't need sunlight. However, the controlled environment in which they are grown can become an ideal breeding ground for pests that can decimate the crop. Therefore, controlling and eradicating these pests is of utmost importance for mushroom growers.
One way to remove bugs and larvae from mushrooms is to dehydrate them. When the heat of a dehydrator is applied, the bugs come out of the mushrooms in search of better conditions and eventually die. However, this method does not guarantee that every single bug is gone, and there will almost always be some leftovers. Therefore, it is recommended to slice the mushrooms thinly before dehydration, as this will kill a lot of the larvae. Additionally, hollow mushrooms like Morels can be cut in half and dehydrated for later use.
Dehydrating mushrooms is a great way to preserve them for long-term storage. It can be done using a food dehydrator, an oven, or even the sun. When using a dehydrator or an oven, it is important to slice the mushrooms into 1/2-inch pieces or cut them down the middle, depending on their shape. They should be arranged on the drying racks or a baking pan without oil and not packed tightly. The ideal temperature for dehydrating mushrooms is between 135 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
Another method to remove bugs from mushrooms is to soak them in saltwater. For mushrooms like Morels and Oysters, a short soak in saltwater will not harm their texture and will kill the bugs and larvae inside. However, it is important not to use too much salt or soak them for too long, as this can affect their texture. After soaking, the mushrooms should be left out to dry before use or storage. Additionally, this method should not be used for fragile mushrooms or those with pores.
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Neem oil insecticides kill mushroom pests
Mushrooms are a great crop for small farms and growing operations as they are grown inside in a carefully controlled environment and don't require sunlight. However, this environment can also be an ideal breeding ground for pests that can decimate a mushroom crop. The Sciarid fly, also known as the fungus gnat, is one of the most common and damaging insects encountered when growing mushrooms indoors. Other pests include the Cecid Fly and the Phorid Fly.
Neem oil is an organic insecticide that can be used to control and eradicate mushroom pests. Derived from the seeds of tropical neem trees, neem oil has been used for centuries to control pests and has also found applications in medicinal and beauty products. Neem oil controls hundreds of pests, including whitefly, aphids, Japanese beetles, moth larvae, scale, and spider mites. It is also listed as a miticide because it kills mites, which are related to spiders and ticks. Neem oil is safe for pets, but exposure should be limited when possible.
Neem oil insecticides work in two ways to kill mushroom pests. Firstly, they disrupt an insect's growth cycle, killing it when it molts. Secondly, it acts as a poison if the insect ingests it. Neem oil insecticides are available as ready-to-use sprays or concentrates. The ready-to-use sprays can be applied directly to insects, while the concentrates must be mixed with water and ordinary dish soap and poured into a spray bottle before application. The concentrate makes up to 128 gallons of insecticide solution and kills many soft- and hard-bodied insects.
To apply neem oil insecticides, spray the walls and floors of the mushroom house until completely wet and dripping. Be sure to coat the undersides of leaves and stems, as well as the surrounding soil, as these are areas where pests like to cluster and lay their eggs. A light misting will take about 45 minutes to an hour to dry. Since neem oil has little to no effect after it dries, it may take several applications to see any noticeable effect. Avoid using neem oil before rain is expected in the area, as rain will wash away the neem oil.
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Amanita muscaria mushrooms have been used as insecticides
Amanita muscaria mushrooms, commonly known as fly agaric or fly amanita, have been used as insecticides, specifically for flies. The name "fly agaric" is derived from its traditional use as a fly killer, with the specific epithet "muscaria" coming from the Latin word "musca", meaning "fly". The practice of using this mushroom as an insecticide has been recorded in Germanic and Slavic-speaking parts of Europe, as well as in the Vosges region and pockets of France and Romania. Albertus Magnus first recorded its use in his work "De vegetabilibus" sometime before 1256, commenting, "vocatur fungus muscarum, eo quod in lacte pulverizatus interficit muscas" ("it is called the fly mushroom because it is powdered in milk to kill flies").
To use Amanita muscaria as an insecticide, pieces of the mushroom would be crumbled and placed in a saucer of milk, attracting house flies. The flies would drink the milk, which contained ibotenic acid, a compound that not only attracts flies but also poisons them. As the flies drank the milk, they would become drowsy, collapse, and die, or perhaps simply drown in the spiked milk.
The use of Amanita muscaria as an insecticide is reflected in its common name, "fly agaric", which means "fly killer". This name has appeared in art and literature since the Renaissance, becoming iconic in fairy tales, children's books, and media. Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) may have experienced the hallucinatory effects of Amanita muscaria, which is reflected in his work "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland".
While Amanita muscaria has been traditionally believed to be both attractive to and harmful to common house flies, its insecticidal properties have been called into question. Animal models have shown that ingestion of Amanita muscaria can be fatal to small puppies, and it is known to cause poisoning in humans, especially in those seeking its hallucinogenic effects. However, fatal poisonings are extremely rare, and the symptoms of intoxication typically clear within 5-24 hours.
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Cordyceps mushrooms kill insects and may be useful for medicine
Cordyceps is a genus of parasitic fungi that infects and kills insects. There are over 750 species of Cordyceps, and they are found all over the world. The fungus replaces the host's tissue with its own fungal mycelium, sprouting long stems outside the host's body. Once large enough, the fungus ejects its fruiting body out of the host and releases its spores to infect other victims.
One type of Cordyceps, the drumstick truffleclub (Elaphocordyceps capitate), has been seen to parasitize another type of fungus, the deer truffle. The june-beetle fungus (Cordyceps ravenelii) infects ten-lined june beetle larvae, and the zombie fungus (Ophiocordyceps unilateralis) alters the behaviour of its tropical ant hosts. Other species of Cordyceps target carpenter ants, spiders, moths, and dragonflies.
Cordyceps also has significant medicinal potential. In traditional Chinese and Eastern medicine, cordyceps can be a daily treatment for good health. It contains a bioactive compound called cordycepin, which has been studied for its potential use in powerful new antiviral medications and cancer drugs. Cordyceps militaris, in particular, is considered a functional food and has been studied for its effects on cancer prevention. However, there is limited research on the effects of cordyceps on humans, and more studies are needed to confirm its health benefits and determine the proper dosage and safety of Cordyceps supplements.
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Frequently asked questions
Sciarid flies, also known as fungus gnats, are one of the most common and damaging pests for mushrooms. Phorid flies, slugs, and snails can also be problematic.
Soaking foraged mushrooms in saltwater can help draw out and kill bugs and larvae. Slicing the mushrooms thinly and dehydrating them can also kill larvae.
Safer® Brand offers a range of insecticides, including BioNEEM with Neem Oil, End ALL® with Neem Oil, and Insect Killing Soap Concentrate.
Yes, the Cordyceps mushroom infects and kills insects, and the Amanita muscaria, or fly agaric, has traditionally been used as an insecticide when sprinkled in milk.
