Diversity of hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) in Nagarjun, Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Nepal

Abstract

Abstract. Budhathoki N, Dhakal S, Dyola U. 2021. Diversity of hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) in Nagarjun, Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Nepal. Biodiversitas 22: 5382-5388. Hoverflies are recognized as potential pollinators of a wide range of wild plants. This study explored the abundance and diversity of hoverflies over three different seasons from October 2018 to April 2019 in two different study sites, i.e. forest and grassland at Nagarjun of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Nepal. Each site of the study area was further divided into five sampling transect stations. Hoverflies were collected from each station by using two methods as pan trap sampling and transect sweeping sampling. Overall, a total of 373 specimens representing 13 species under nine genera of two subfamilies (Syrphinae and Eristalinae) were recorded. The abundance and diversity of hoverflies varied seasonally, the maximum number of individuals and diversity were recorded from the spring season, whereas the minimum number of individuals and diversity were found in the winter season. In addition, forest habitat consists of the highest abundance and diversity of hoverflies, whereas grassland consists of the lowest abundance and diversity. The analysis done by using generalized linear modeling (GLM) revealed climatic parameters such as temperature and humidity had a varying effect on the abundance of hoverflies. However, both these parameters had not any significant influence on the number of hoverfly species.

Phytophysiognomy and temperature in an environmental preservation area in southern Minas Gerais influence the diversity and abundance of Syrphidae (Diptera) species

“…reported that syrphids are active throughout the year but with greater prominence in the spring. This distribution is related to the periods in which there is greater availability of oral resources, which are necessary for adult nutrition(Djellab et al 2019;Budhathoki et al 2021).In this study, the mean temperature ranged between 21 and 32°C and had a negative in uence on the abundance and composition of the Syrphidae community. It is noteworthy that there are several possible factors that affect the abundance, including local and site-dependent biological factors; for example, very high temperatures can in uence the oral structure, leaving plants more wilted, which indirectly affects visitation by ies.…”

“…Among the subfamilies collected, Syrphinae had the highest number of species collected (46) and the highest relative frequency (90.27%) (Table 1). (10) captured in both phytophysiognomies with entomological nets. The other species collected accounted for less than 4% of the total collection (Supplementary Material 1, Table S1).…”

“…These characteristics have a positive relationship with the diversity of Syrphidae species, which are positively in uenced by the diversity of plants, in addition to providing several microhabitats favorable to the development of immature syrphid species(Rotheray et al 2001). Studies conducted byGaytán et al (2020) andBudhathoki et al (2021) observed a greater richness of syrphid species in a forest area than in pasture habitats. It is noteworthy that the area of the forest where the collections were performed with a net and the collection of insects by passive trapping was performed close to a transition area.…”

“…reported that syrphids are active throughout the year but with greater prominence in the spring. This distribution is related to the periods in which there is greater availability of oral resources, which are necessary for adult nutrition(Djellab et al 2019;Budhathoki et al 2021).…”

An updated checklist of the hoverflies of Nepal (Diptera: Syrphidae)

“…Oriental and Palaearctic -NEPAL. Kathmandu District: Manichud at 1,800-2,300m; Nagarjun, 1,400-2,100m; Shivapuri, 1,700-2,300m; Sundarijal, 1,500-2,000m; Nuwakot, Gurjebhanjyang, 1,600-2,000m; Taplejung District: Sanghu at Tumlingtar plateau at 609m, Sankhuwasabha District: Chichila Arun valley; Lalitpur District: Godawari Botanical Garden at 1,400m, Phulchoki at 2,300-2,500m and Hotel Norrbu Linka at 1,350m, Kathmandu District: Thamel, Kritipur, Tribubvan at 1,400m; Kaski District: Ulleri at 2,070-1,800m and Pokhara at 900m, Myagdi: Ghodepani at 2,855m and Sikha at 2,850-1,920m; Dolpa District: Kaigaon to Rimi at 2,800-3,100m, Jumla District at 2,400m and Uthu at 2,500m (Brunetti, 1908;Coe, 1964;Lambeck & Kiauta, 1973;Kapoor et al, 1979;Thapa, 2015;Budhathoki et al, 2021;Dyola et al, 2023).…”