Articles
Attractiveness of some Apiaceae flowers for Syrphidae (Diptera) – pollinators and biological control agents
Article number
1264_34
Pages
275 – 282
Language
English
Abstract
In crop production there are two main limiting factors – pollination and pest damage.
Effective pollination results in increased quantity and quality of seed or fruit crops.
One of the important group of pollinators are Syrphidae adults commonly visiting flowers as pollen and nectar sources however they are still not been practically used in crop production.
Larvae of predatory species are among the most important natural enemies of aphids in biological control.
The aim of this work was the identification the best pollinators within family Syrphidae and choice the most attractive Apiaceae plants for hoverflies to include in crops for a better protection.
During two years of observations, 224 specimens of hoverflies belonging to 17 species and four trophic groups were collected from Apiaceae flowers.
Dominated aphidophagous species which constituted almost 80% of all collected specimens.
Non-predatory species from the subfamily Eristalinae consisted of saprophagous species (13%), coprophagous (4.9%) and phytophagous group (1.3%). The most frequently recorded fly species were: the aphidophagous Episyrphus balteatus (Deg.), Sphaerophoria sciripta (L.), Syrphus vitripennis Meig., and Eupeodes corollae (Fabr.) – they were classified to the eudominants (63%). The saprophagous Eristalis tenax (L.) and detritivorous Syritta pipiens (L.) were respectively classed as dominants and subdominants.
The most preferred flowers in terms of feeding visits by syrphid adults were Carum carvi L. and Coriandrum sativum L. – almost 45% of syrphid specimens were collected from their flowers.
These findings may have important influence for research in pollination ecology and for use of syrphids as agents of biological control.
Effective pollination results in increased quantity and quality of seed or fruit crops.
One of the important group of pollinators are Syrphidae adults commonly visiting flowers as pollen and nectar sources however they are still not been practically used in crop production.
Larvae of predatory species are among the most important natural enemies of aphids in biological control.
The aim of this work was the identification the best pollinators within family Syrphidae and choice the most attractive Apiaceae plants for hoverflies to include in crops for a better protection.
During two years of observations, 224 specimens of hoverflies belonging to 17 species and four trophic groups were collected from Apiaceae flowers.
Dominated aphidophagous species which constituted almost 80% of all collected specimens.
Non-predatory species from the subfamily Eristalinae consisted of saprophagous species (13%), coprophagous (4.9%) and phytophagous group (1.3%). The most frequently recorded fly species were: the aphidophagous Episyrphus balteatus (Deg.), Sphaerophoria sciripta (L.), Syrphus vitripennis Meig., and Eupeodes corollae (Fabr.) – they were classified to the eudominants (63%). The saprophagous Eristalis tenax (L.) and detritivorous Syritta pipiens (L.) were respectively classed as dominants and subdominants.
The most preferred flowers in terms of feeding visits by syrphid adults were Carum carvi L. and Coriandrum sativum L. – almost 45% of syrphid specimens were collected from their flowers.
These findings may have important influence for research in pollination ecology and for use of syrphids as agents of biological control.
Authors
E. Wojciechowicz-Żytko
Keywords
allurement, hoverflies, umbellifer plants
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