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Hoverflies

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Caused By:-     Several Genus and species of the family Syrphidae

Description

Hoverflies are not pests, but are one of the gardeners best friends like the ladybirds and the lacewings, because the larva eats aphids and other soft bodied pests. The adults feed on pollen and nectar from flowers and some hoverflies are important pollinators. Therefore most adult hoverflies are important natural enemies and agents of biological control of pests. There are found all over the world. With about 6000 species in over 250 Genera of the family Syrphidae in the order Dipteria, which makes them true flies, the different colours and banding is great. In the Uk the most common species (Syrphus ribesii) looks like a wasp, because of their black and yellow-striped abdomens and also because they can occur in large numbers. They can be found in the garden on flowers or hovering nearby in the summer. The larvae are rather flattened, legless, maggot slightly tapering towards the mouth. Most are green or brownish in colour.

Control

Care should be exercised in the use of insecticides during the Spring and summer as these friends of the gardener could be killed making your problems worse.

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