Pollination by hoverflies in the Anthropocene

Doyle, Toby; Hawkes, Will; Massy, Richard; Powney, Gary D.; Menz, Myles H. M.; Wotton, Karl R.

doi:10.1098/rspb.2020.0508

Cited by 132 publications

(156 citation statements)

References 98 publications

(132 reference statements)

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“…Hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) are insects that provide vital ecosystem services, which, depending on the species, include pest control or recycling of organic matter in the larval stages 1,2 . In addition, the adult stages of hoverflies rely on nectar as an energy source and pollen for egg maturation and can be effective pollinators of many plant species 3–5 . Approximately one‐third of the ~6000 hoverfly species are predatory, i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aphidophagous hoverflies reduce foxglove aphid infestations and improve seed set and fruit yield in sweet pepper

Moerkens

Boonen

Wäckers

et al. 2021

Pest Management Science

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BACKGROUND Larvae of many hoverfly species prey upon aphids, whereas the adults, by relying on nectar and pollen, contribute to the pollination of many plant species. Despite their great potential for pest control and pollination, important gaps still exist regarding the efficacy of hoverflies in regulating infestations of major aphid pests in augmentative biological control programs. Here, we tested the potential of the commercially available hoverflies Eupeodes corollae and Sphaerophoria rueppellii to regulate populations of the foxglove aphid Aulacorthum solani in sweet pepper. RESULTS In a semi‐field experiment, aphid numbers were 93.2% and 78.4% lower in the E. corollae and S. rueppellii treatments, respectively, compared to the control. Fruit yield was increased by 390% and 361% and seed set by 395% and 399% for E. corollae and S. rueppellii. In a separate laboratory trial, we found that under conditions of limited prey, hoverfly larvae did not complete development, but that larvae of S. rueppellii survived significantly longer than larvae of E. corollae. CONCLUSION We have shown for the first time that E. corollae and S. rueppellii can reduce infestations of foxglove aphid in sweet pepper. The limited amount of prey, related to the small size of the A. solani colonies, means that hoverfly larvae were often not able to complete development. In practice, repeated releases of hoverflies, possibly in combination with other natural enemies, might be used to achieve effective suppression of A. solani infestations. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aphidophagous hoverflies reduce foxglove aphid infestations and improve seed set and fruit yield in sweet pepper

Moerkens

Boonen

Wäckers

et al. 2021

Pest Management Science

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“…Too often neglected, dipteran pollinators ensure the reproduction of many flowering plants ( Rader et al 2015 , Ssymank et al 2008 ). By consuming pollen and nectar, adult hoverflies ( Syrphidae ) play a pivotal role in the pollen transmission of over 70% of wildflowers ( Doyle et al 2020 , Inouye et al 2015 ). Hoverfly larvae exhibit a wide variety of feeding habits, including phytophagy, zoophagy, aphidophagy, saprophagy and mycophagy ( Sommaggio 1999 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution of wild bee (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) and hoverfly (Diptera: Syrphidae) communities within farms undergoing ecological transition

Noël¹,

Bonnet²,

Everaerts³

et al. 2021

BDJ

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In Havelange (Belgium), two farms are experiencing an ecological transition. We aimed to evaluate the impact of their agricultural activities on insect pollinator communities. This article depicts the situation at the very early stage of the farm transition. This study supports the fact that the maintenance of farm-level natural habitats provides environmental benefits, such as the conservation of two important pollinator communities: wild bees and hoverflies. Over two years (2018-2019), by using nets and coloured pan-traps, we collected 6301 bee and hoverfly specimens amongst contrasting habitats within two farmsteads undergoing ecological transition in Havelange (Belgium). We reported 101 bee species and morphospecies from 15 genera within six families and 31 hoverfly species and morphospecies from 18 genera. This list reinforces the national pollinator database by providing new distribution data for extinction-threatened species, such as Andrena schencki Morawitz 1866, Bombus campestris (Panzer 1801), Eucera longicornis (L.) and Halictus maculatus Smith 1848 or for data deficient species, such as A. semilaevis Pérez 1903, A. fulvata (Müller 1766), A. trimmerana (Kirby 1802) and Hylaeus brevicornis Nylander 1852.

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“…Unfortunately to date, the only group among all pollinating insects that can be tamed and utilised is still restricted to honey bees, bumble bees, some solitary bees, and wasps (Hymenoptera) [1,3,4]. The vast majority of the remaining non-Hymenoptera pollinators, including butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), various beetles (Coleoptera), and true flies (Diptera), are still less understood and totally dependent on natural resources [1,3,[5][6][7]. Improving our understanding of non-Hymenoptera pollinators, including the spatial distribution of diversity of such groups, is practically important for future resource utilisation and conservation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Distribution of Pollinating Butterflies in Yunnan Province, Southwest China with Resource Conservation Implications

Zhang

Wang

et al. 2020

Insects

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Pollinating butterflies are an important asset to agriculture, which still depends on wild resources. Yunnan Province in Southwest China is a region with typical montane agriculture, but this resource is poorly investigated. From literature reference and specimen examination, the present study identified 554 species of pollinating butterflies (50.8% of the total butterflies) from Yunnan, with family Nymphalidae possessing the least number of pollinators (80 species, 16.0%), while the remaining four families are pollinator-rich (>73%). Tropical lowlands and mountain-valley areas possess higher species richness than those with plain terrains. The species richness of pollinating butterflies in Yunnan does not simply decline with the increase of latitude, nor is significantly different between West and East Yunnan. Zonation of pollinating butterflies using the parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE) identified nine distribution zones and ten subzones. Most areas of endemism (AOE) are found in lowlands or mountain-valley areas, complexity of terrains, climates, and vegetation types are believed to be the main causes of such endemicity. The potential pollinating service of these butterflies could be great to montane agriculture with expanding areas of cash crops and fruit horticulture. Conservation strategies for pollinating butterflies may consist of preserving habitats and establishing butterfly-friendly agriculture based on local traditions.

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Pollination by hoverflies in the Anthropocene

Cited by 132 publications

References 98 publications

Aphidophagous hoverflies reduce foxglove aphid infestations and improve seed set and fruit yield in sweet pepper

Aphidophagous hoverflies reduce foxglove aphid infestations and improve seed set and fruit yield in sweet pepper

Distribution of wild bee (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) and hoverfly (Diptera: Syrphidae) communities within farms undergoing ecological transition

Spatial Distribution of Pollinating Butterflies in Yunnan Province, Southwest China with Resource Conservation Implications

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