The Link Late Summer 2019 The Link Aug-Sep 2019 v2 | Page 17

Hover fly (Episyrphus balteatus): photo courtesy of Ross Hoddinott
directly into dense aphid infestations and the
voracious, predatory larvae consume the bodily
fluids of hundreds of aphids before entering the
pupal stage. They sometimes even stick the dead
aphid bodies to their backs. Other types of larvae
live in the sap runs of trees or in stagnant water.
They breathe through a long snorkel-like tube that
reaches through the liquid to the surface.
Another common species is the Heineken fly,
Rhingia campestris, which has an unmistakeable
long orangey-brown snout that enables it to take
nectar from deeper
flowers – reaching the
parts other hoverflies
cannot reach!
green flowers provide an easy source of pollen and
nectar for their delicate sponge-like mouths. Baltic
parsley, Cenolophium denudatum, and French
meadow parsley, Orlaya grandiflora, are particular
favourites with gardeners and hoverflies alike.
So next time you are out in your garden, pause and
look out for hoverflies zipping in and out of the
flowers. Then sit back and relax in the knowledge
that while they are busy pollinating your plants,
their offspring are hoovering up aphids from your
roses.
There are many ways
to attract pollinators to
our gardens, for
example by installing
bee hotels or planting
pollinator-friendly
flowers. Hoverflies in
particular love flowers
from members of the
cow parsley family,
known as umbellifers.
The open white and
The Link

Hover fly (Eristalis tenax) a honeybee mimic: photo courtesy of Nick Upton 17