Caring for Pollinators - Bundesamt für Naturschutz

Ssymank Fact sheet pollinators: Flower Flies (Syrphidae, Diptera)
Main flower preferences
The number of flowering plants in a community that are visited by syrphids is usually high,
reaching up to 80% of the regional flora. Flower constancy is usually high due to individual
species’ preferences for flower colour, height and floral type combined with the requirement
for synchrony of fly and flower phenology. Many species prefer white and yellow flowers
with easily accessible nectar, however a number of species are highly specialised. Anemophilous
plants, including some grasses, shrubs and trees may be partly pollinated by flowerflies.
In Europe, the plant families known to be regularly visited by flower flies include Apiaceae,
Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Dipsacaceae, Hypericaceae, Polygonaceae,
Ranunculaceae and Rosaceae. Some grasses and sedges (Poaceaea, Cyperaceae and
Juncaceae) are regularly visited by flower flies of the genera Melanostoma and Platycheirus.
In sheltered situations, these flies are likely to be important for the pollination of otherwise
wind-pollinated plants like in Plantago (e.g. Stellemann 1978). Some typical “Diptera-flowers”
like Sanicula europaea, Galium sp. and Saxifraga species may be more or less exclusively
pollinated by flower flies.
Flower flies as crop pollinators
In Europe
Brassica napus (Brassicaceae); Oilseed Rape
Fragaria x ananassa (Rosacaea); Strawberry
Malus domestica (Rosaceae); Apple
Pyrus communis (Rosaceae); Pear
Rubus-species like Rubus idaeus, Rubus chamaemorus (Rosaceae); Raspberry and Cloudberry
Sorbus aucuparia (Rosaceae); Mountain Ash
In tropical regions
Mangifera indica and M. foetida (Anacardiaceae); Mango and Gray Mango
Camellia sinensis (Theacaceae);Tea Plant
Coffea arabica (Rubiaceae); Arabian Coffee
Anacardium occidentale (Anacardiaceae); Cashew
Persea americana (Lauraceae); Avocado
Acacia tortilis (Fabaceae); Umbrella Thorn
Spice-plants and vegetables
Petroselinum crispum (Apiaceae); Parsley
Allium cepa (Alliaceae); Onion
Carum carvi (Apiaceae); Caraway
Daucus carota (Apiaceae); Carot
Foeniculum vulgare (Apiaceae); Fennel
A number of medical plants and many ornamental plants are pollinated by flower flies.
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