BiologyCoachOnlineBlog

In honor of Pollinators Week, we shine our spotlight on the Hoverfly.

Hoverflies (a.k.a. flower flies) make up the insect family Syrphidae. They are often seen hovering at flowers (hence their common name).

Their are about 6,000 species of hoverfly representing 200 genera. Hoverflies are common throughout the world and can be found on all continents except Antarctica. They are harmless to most other animals in spite of the fact that their appearance mimics that of wasps and bees. [Such mimicry is effective in warding off potential predators.]

Adult Hoverflies feed mainly on nectar and pollen while the larvae eat a variety of food items. For example, in some species, larvae are saprotrophs (i.e. they eat decaying plant and animal matter in the soil) while in other species, larvae are insectivores (preying mainly on aphids, thrips, and other plant-sucking insects).

Hoverflies are important pollinators of flowering plants in a variety of ecosystems worldwide. They are frequent visitors to a wide range of wild plants and agricultural crops, and they are perhaps the second-most important group of pollinators after wild bees. While many Hoverfly species are pollinator generalists, some are highly specific. For example, Cheilosia albitarsis is thought to only visit Ranunculus repens. Flower preferences differ between species. However, Hoverflies tend to prefer white- and yellow-coloured flowers. Olfactory cues also help Hoverflies find flowers (especially those that are not yellow). Many Hoverfly species have short, unspecialized mouth parts and feed on flowers that are more open (where nectar and pollen is more easily accessible). Interestingly, the orchid species Epipactis veratrifolia mimics alarm pheromones of aphids to attract hoverflies for pollination while the slipper orchid in southwest China achieves pollination by exploiting the innate yellow color preference of the Hoverfly.

Long live the Hoverfly.