Beneficial insects #1: The Hoverfly
Have you ever been outside on a summer’s day and noticed a small bee-like insect hovering around you? That could be the Hoverfly also known as the oblique stripetail, flowerfly, or syrphid fly. There are many species of Hoverflies, all in the Syrphidae family, so today we will be talking specifically about Allograpta obliqua, a species native to Massachusetts.
Identification and behavior
Hoverflies are often mistaken for bees and wasps due to the yellow stripes on their abdomen. This is a tactic used in an attempt to ward off predators. However, they lack the body parts needed to sting or bite. Hoverflies are noticeably small, roughly ½ an inch. These unique insects also possess the ability to hover in place, or fly backwards. If you notice a Hoverfly landing on your skin, it is likely that they are using their sponging mouthpart to lick your sweat.
Why are they important?
Hoverflies have an important role as predators, both during their larval stage and as adults. They act as biological control by feeding on many common garden and landscape pests, such as aphids, mites, whiteflies, psyllids, and mealybugs. Hoverflies often lay their eggs on branches or leaves near aphids, and once hatched, their larvae may reduce aphid populations by 70-100%.
How to attract more Hoverflies
Hoverflies are more likely to stick around if you provide a food source for them. They feed on pollen and nectar, and like most flies, favor flat topped flowers that grant easy access to these nutrients and sugars. A few great plants to incorporate into your garden would be Yarrow, Queen Anne’s lace, Asters, Dill, Tansy, and buckwheat.
So if you ever encounter these little guys buzzing around, welcome them into your garden!
