FLORAL HOST PLANT RANGE OF SYRPHID FLIES (SYRPHIDAE: DIPTERA) UNDER NATURAL CONDITIONS IN SOUTHERN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Syrphid flies are very important group of insects in ecosystem from viewpoint of pollination and biological control. Floral host preference of 15 most abundant syrphid fly species was assessed towards 11 agricultural and 40 non-agricultural plant species in 28 families under natural field conditions. Coriandrum sativum, Cirsium arvense, Launaea procumbens, Prosopis juliflora, Allium cepa, Ranunculus muricatus and Daucus carota were visited by maximum number of syrphid fly species (>9). Eristalinus aeneus, Ischiodon scutellaris and Episyrphus balteatus were the most frequent floral visitors and also visited maximum number of plant species. There was a positive relationship between abundance of syrphid fly species and the amount of available floral resources along the flowering weeks. Fifteen syrphid most preferred plant species were identified including 8 agricultural and 7 non-agricultural plant species. Parkinsonia aculeata and Mangifera indica were the most preferred plant species by syrphid flies among agricultural and non-agricultural plant species, respectively. Most of the syrphid fly species preferred white and yellow colored actenomorphic flowers.