GARDENING Hoverflies 10 things you didn’t know about hoverflies
By Hannah Stephenson, PA
They work as hard as bees to pollinate our plants, often look and sound like bees but have no sting – yet hoverflies remain the unsung heroes of our gardens.
Now,The Wildlife Trusts and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) are calling on gardeners across the country to help save hoverflies, through this year’s Wild About Gardens campaign, by making room for these beneficial insects in our gardens this summer by building log piles, planting flowers and creating shallow ponds. Hoverflies come in many shapes and sizes and are often mistaken for bees, wasps and hornets. Many of these insect workers, which are as critical for our food security as bees, are now endangered, the charities warn. They visit 72% of crops globally which they either pollinate or protect by eating sap-sucking aphids.Additionally, they pollinate wildflowers, are food for birds and even help break down organic matter in gardens.
Yet, intensive agriculture, harmful pesticides, urban development and climate change have all taken their toll, the charities state.
“Hoverflies contribute so much to our gardens and pollinate more than half the world’s crops,” says Vicki Hird, strategic agriculture lead for The Wildlife Trusts and author of Rebugging The Planet.“Unfortunately, just as with bees, harmful pesticides, urban development, climate change and intensive agriculture are threatening their survival. “One thing we can all do this summer is to make our gardens more hoverfly friendly. If you invite them, they will come – and once you start to notice them, you’ll be amazed at their incredible markings and cunning disguises.” Helen Bostock, senior wildlife specialist at the RHS, says:“You can attract hoverflies by planting open, easily accessible flowers. In spring, they’ll be drawn to aubrieta. In summer, they’ll love blackberry flowers, oxeye daisy, marigolds, fennel, cow parsley and poppies. Come autumn, they can be seen on heather, aster and even common ivy.”
10 things you may not know about hoverflies:
1.There are around 280 species of hoverfly and they’re the second most significant pollinator after bees.
2. Some hoverfly species are masters of disguise.They have assumed the form of stinging insects to protect themselves.The hornet mimic hoverfly is the UK’s largest hoverfly, at almost 2cm long. 3.The adult insects tend to be black and yellow with oval bodies, but they may have white markings or even a metallic sheen. Common names include the Footballer, Batman and Marmalade hoverfly due to their colours, stripy patterns and markings.
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