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mcchieftan
Part man, part mushroom



Registered: 09/08/05
Posts: 525
Loc: Norway
Last seen: 9 months, 2 days
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Secondary capture insect netting
#22498759 - 11/09/15 12:36 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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Hi guys,
I'm almost finished building a secondary capture area for our King Oyster farma and I'm just trying to get some info on what mesh size is required to stop the sciarid and phorid flies from getting to our mushrooms. I have a large quantity of 1mm mesh netting but I'm concerned that it won't be fine enough. I'll set up a trial this week with this netting but if anyone has any personal experience (or linked info) I'd appreciate hearing what you have to say.
Thanks for all the help! October was the best month yet: if we can do that every month we will be very comfortable mushroom farmers!
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solarity
mm... my favourite food



Registered: 03/31/09
Posts: 1,590
Loc: UK
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Re: Secondary capture insect netting [Re: mcchieftan]
#22498993 - 11/09/15 03:43 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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Unfortunately you only need two to get in and you have millions in a few days. I use netting as a wind break but if you enclose the area fully you will just concentrate the flies. IMO Keep the slugs, sun and wind off and dont worry about the flies.
-------------------- Commercial exotics farmer for 8 years - now sold up!
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mcchieftan
Part man, part mushroom



Registered: 09/08/05
Posts: 525
Loc: Norway
Last seen: 9 months, 2 days
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Re: Secondary capture insect netting [Re: solarity]
#22498995 - 11/09/15 03:53 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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Ahh shit.. The bags that we leave outside attract so many flies! I don't have much hope that we could just leave them. Our clients are used to no flies/maggots whatsoever and I don't feel like I want to risk our reputation just to increase the harvest... 
What do you do about them? Sell the mushrooms cheaper... Do you sell wormy mushrooms?!
Edited by mcchieftan (11/09/15 04:01 AM)
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solarity
mm... my favourite food



Registered: 03/31/09
Posts: 1,590
Loc: UK
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Re: Secondary capture insect netting [Re: mcchieftan]
#22499022 - 11/09/15 04:45 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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I don't seem to have a fly issue with the outdoor stuff. They will of course die off as it gets colder. You could try throwing a mosquito net over the bags -they you will know if the fly eggs are already in the mushrooms/sub (or more likely the casing).
I have to say I didn't know that kings were fly magnets.
-------------------- Commercial exotics farmer for 8 years - now sold up!
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mcchieftan
Part man, part mushroom



Registered: 09/08/05
Posts: 525
Loc: Norway
Last seen: 9 months, 2 days
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Re: Secondary capture insect netting [Re: solarity]
#22499074 - 11/09/15 05:43 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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I've been chucking the blocks into the garden for a while now and the mushrooms are always wormy.
Its funny cos we always have a few flies in the FC but I've never seen any wormy mushrooms.
I think I'll try a net and see what that gives (filling it with yellow pads too) if not, maybe I seal the thing entirely with greenhouse plastic, whack a big, netted intake fan on one end and overpressure the whole thing. I reckon we're missing out on 200-300 euros of mushrooms a week so its gotta be worth a try!
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drake89
Mushroom Magnate



Registered: 06/26/11
Posts: 4,168
Loc: TN
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
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Re: Secondary capture insect netting [Re: mcchieftan]
#22499345 - 11/09/15 08:06 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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yeah i think it would be best to have it inside somewhat even if it means a tarp structure. have you thought about fogging with pyrethrum? you can get a plant derived vareity if that is a concern. i don't have problems with bugs but I know people that swear by it.
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Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
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Re: Secondary capture insect netting [Re: mcchieftan]
#22499396 - 11/09/15 08:29 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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Build a hoop greenhouse with poly. A swamp cooler at the end would cool and humidify quite easily. Probably a 55 gal drum DIY swamp cooler or even buy a small commercial unit. If its 300 euro a week potential and you have the space, sounds worthy of dumping 1-2000e into a proper polytunnel greenhouse.
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drake89
Mushroom Magnate



Registered: 06/26/11
Posts: 4,168
Loc: TN
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
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Re: Secondary capture insect netting [Re: Gr0wer]
#22499430 - 11/09/15 08:43 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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i forgot it's summer down there. it's still probably pretty cool in south africa :p
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mcchieftan
Part man, part mushroom



Registered: 09/08/05
Posts: 525
Loc: Norway
Last seen: 9 months, 2 days
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Re: Secondary capture insect netting [Re: drake89]
#22499451 - 11/09/15 08:52 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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South Africa? Nope, getting cooler here in northern France :p
Thanks for ideas, I'll get back with results
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