Pollinators in New Zealand

Bees & Wasps

There’s a total of 41 species of bee native to New Zealand, 28 of these species being native to the islands, and 13 of them being non-natives that were introduced over time.

Syrphid flies
Small striped fly 01

There are more than 40 species of Syrphid flies in New Zealand see List of flower fly species of New Zealand.[1] As is the case outside of New Zealand, the family is extremely variable, ranging from large, bulky, and hairy to the small, slender, and shiny. These flies are found in a variety of habitats including agricultural fields and alpine zones. Two hoverfly species in Switzerland are being investigated for introduction as biological control agents of hawkweeds in New Zealand.[2]

Syrphid flies, in particular the native species Melanostoma fasciatum and Melangyna novaezelandiae, are common on agricultural fields in New Zealand.[3] Coriander and tansy leaf are known to be particularly attractive to many species of adult hoverflies which feed on large quantities of pollen of these plants.[4] In organic paddocks hoverflies were found to feed on an average of three and a maximum of six different pollen types. M. fasciatum has a short proboscis which restricts it to obtaining nectar from disk flowers.[5]

Syrphid flies are also common visitors to flowers in alpine zones in New Zealand. Native flies (Allograpta and Platycheirus) in alpine zones show preferences for flower species based on their colour in alpine zones; syrphid flies consistently choose yellow flowers over white regardless of species.[6] However, syrphid flies are not as effective pollinators of alpine herb species as native solitary bees.[7]

References
  1. "Diptera: Syrphidae". Landcare Research. Archived from the original on 2013-02-20. Retrieved 2013-08-30.
  2. Grosskopf, Gitta (2005). "Biology and life history of Cheliosia urbana (Meigen) and Cheilosia psilophthalma (Becker), two sympatric hoverflies approved for the biological control of hawkweeds (Hieracium spp.) in New Zealand". Biological Control. 35: 142–154. doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2005.06.013.
  3. Morris, Michael, C. (2000). "Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) "companion plants" can attract hover flies, and may reduce infestation in cabbages". New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science. 28: 213–217. doi:10.1080/01140671.2000.9514141.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. Hickman, Janice, M.; Lovei, G. L.; Wratten, S. D. (1995). "Pollen feeding by adults of the hoverfly Melanostoma fasciatum (Diptera: Syrphidae)". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 22: 387–392. doi:10.1080/03014223.1995.9518057.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. Holloway, Beverley, A. (1976). "Pollen-feeding in hover-flies (Diptera:Syrphidae)". New Zealand Journal of Ecology. 3 (4): 339–350. doi:10.1080/03014223.1976.9517924.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. Campbell, Diane; Bischoff, M.; Lord, J. M.; Robertson, A. W. (2010). "Flower color influences insect visitation in alpine New Zealand". Ecology. 91 (9): 2638–2649. doi:10.1890/09-0941.1.
  7. Bischoff, Mascha; Campbell, D. R.; Lord, J. M.; Robertson, A. W. (2013). "The relative importance of solitary bees and syrphid flies as pollinators of two outcrossing plant species in the New Zealand alpine". Austral Ecology. 38: 169–176. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9993.2012.02389.x.

[1]

  1. Gillingham, Allan. "New Zealand's bee species". Teara.
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