Phenology and Ecology of Hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) in New Zealand

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Abstract
Hoverflies are potentially important in many agricultural and horticultural crops as biological control agents. The two most abundant species of hoverflies present in the New Zealand agricultural landscape are Melanostoma fasciatum (Macquart) and Melangyna novaezelandiae (Macquart), both of which ar aphidophagous and also prey on young lepidopteran larvae. Information regarding the phenology and ecology of these species is quite limited but is needed if the contribution of these predators to biocontrol is to be enhanced. The main work reported here concerns the trapping of large numbers of hoverflies to investigate their phenology; these flies were subsequently assessed for the pollen type take and for wingwear. Foraging behavior, optimal trap color, and ideal trap-emptying rate were also studied. There was good evidence of a second generation of hoverflies occurring in late summer and pollen preferences for both species of hoverfly were exhibited. The foraging behavior of the two species differed in relation to the number of flights made and the overall distance traveled over fixed time intervals. Yellow was the most efficient color for trapping M. novaezlandiae but for M. fasciatum yellow, white, and blue did not differ and green was poor. The value of the work in providing backgroun ecological information for possible enhancement programs for hoverfly populations on farmland is discussed.

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