Larval feeding capacity and pollination efficiency of the aphidophagous syrphids, Eupeodes frequens (Matsmura) and Episyrphus balteatus (De Geer) (Diptera: Syrphidae) on the cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) (Homoptera: Aphididae) on mustard crop

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out on in vitro mass multiplication, larval feeding capacity, and pollination efficiency of two aphidophagous syrphids viz., Eupeodes frequens (Matsmura) and Episyrphus balteatus (De Geer) (Diptera: Syrphidae) on cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) (Homoptera: Aphididae) on mustard crop under mid hill conditions. The results revealed that the incubation, larval, and pupal periods were 3.5, 12.4, and 11.9 days, respectively for E. frequens and 3.8, 13.7, and 8.8 days, for E. balteatus. Longevity of male and female was 15.2 and 17.6 days for E. frequens and 10.6 and 12.6 days for E. balteatus, respectively. When the adults were fed on different diets, adult longevity and fecundity recorded significantly maximum on 10% honey solution + fresh pollen grains. E. frequens consumed an average of 261.7 individuals of cabbage aphids per larva during total larval period, whereas the larva of E. balteatus consumed 393.6 cabbage aphids. The pollination efficiency of hoverflies on Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) was studied under caged conditions. It was observed that the plants pollinated by E. balteatus and E. frequens showed 55.12 and 52.97% seed set. Among the different diets, fresh pollen grains + 10% honey solutions recorded to be the best diet for mass rearing of syrphids.

Effect of Abiotic Climatic Factors on the Gonadal Maturation of the Biocontrol Agent Sphaerophoria rueppellii (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Syrphidae)

“…This result agrees with Hong and Hung [ 57 ], who demonstrated the influence of the temperature on the lifespan of the syrphid E. balteatus . In some syrphids species, it has been observed that the female lives longer (2 days more) than the male [ 25 ], and this was confirmed by our results. The females of S. rueppellii live (25 ± 0.93 days) compared to males (23.4 ± 093 days), although no significant differences were found.…”

“…An exception is E. balteatus , a common Palearctic hoverfly, of great importance as a natural enemy [ 6 , 18 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. In this species, adult feeding affects longevity [ 25 ] and oviposition [ 24 , 26 ]. In addition, the presence of oviposition stimuli directly affects the maturation of the ovaries, the number of eggs produced, and the absorption of the eggs [ 22 , 23 , 27 ], but nothing is known about the sexual maturation of the males.…”

Pollinator Diversity and Foraging Behaviour of Insect Pollinators in Aonla

“…Similar study conducted by Deuri et al (2018) on mango inflorescence revealed that foraging rate of A. cerana indica was maximum (11.64) at 0900-1000 hr and minimum (3.49) at 1300-1400 hr. Singh et al (2018) also reported that maximum foraging rate (10.86) was recorded at 1200-1300 hr and minimum (6.37) at 0900-1000 hr. The time spent by A. cerana indica (6.24 sec/ flower) and T. iridipennis (6.20) on aonla flowers were recorded maximum at 1100-1200 hr and lower values (2.42 and 3.04) were observed at 1700-1800 hr.…”

Floral strips adjacent to Manitoba crop fields attract beneficial insects shortly after establishment regardless of management type or landscape context

“…As larvae, syrphids are efficient predators of aphids and have been used for biological control in agriculture (Bugg et al, 2008; Curran, 1920; Hopper et al, 2011). As adults, syrphids are pollinators of plants such as mustards (Singh et al, 2020), strawberries (Sharma et al, 2014) and many wildflowers (Tooker et al, 2006). Wild bees are also important pollinators of many crops such as alfalfa (Pitts‐Singer & Cane, 2011), blueberries (Blaauw & Isaacs, 2014; Isaacs & Kirk, 2010), cherries (Holzschuh et al, 2012) and sunflowers (Greenleaf & Kremen, 2006).…”