BioControl (2019) 64, 149-158

Neus Rodríguez-Gasol, Jesús Avilla, Simó Alegre and Georgina Alins (2019)
Sphaerophoria rueppelli adults change their foraging behavior after mating but maintain the same preferences to flower traits
BioControl 64 (2), 149-158
Abstract: Hoverflies can play an important role in aphid biological control. Adult hoverflies depend on pollen and nectar to survive. Therefore the placement of flower resources in agroecosystems is a common method to enhance the populations of these insects. When foraging, hoverflies rely on visual cues to select flowers. We studied the preference of Sphaerophoria rueppelli (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Syrphidae) adults for several flower traits and examined whether mating influenced foraging behavior. We observed that these insects were greatly attracted to bouquets of 12 flat circle-shaped flowers (half white and half yellow). Furthermore, yellow flowers elicited landing more than other colors, regardless of the type of bouquet. With respect to the effect of mating on posterior foraging behavior, virgin individuals showed more movement than gravid ones. Our results shed light on the behavior of adult hoverflies and can be used to improve habitat management practices that seek to promote biological control.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Jesús Avilla

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
environment - cropping system/rotation
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Sphaerophoria rueppellii (predator)