Más contenido relacionado Similar a Fly Pollinators - Notes (20) Fly Pollinators - Notes1. 1/6/2013
Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden
Flower Flies & Friends:
Fly Pollinators & Other
Beneficial Dipterans in the
Garden and the Wild
C.M. Vadheim and T. Drake
CSU Dominguez Hills & Madrona Marsh Preserve
Arthur Johnson Center – Friends of Gardena Willows Wetland
Gardening with Western L.A. County Native Plants Preserve
Project SOUND – 2012 (our 8th year) July 12, 2012
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
Colony Collapse Disorder – our wake-up call
I’m worried about our food
Global climate change
Decreasing effectiveness of artificial pest control
Loss of crop biodiversity
Genetic modification of crop plants
Loss of native habitat
http://bee-rapture.blogspot.com/2009/04/found-cause-of-colony-
collapse-disorder.html
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
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Can we still find answers in the wild?
© Project SOUND Who in the heck are all those little guys? © Project SOUND
Class Insecta – the insects
Dipterans are numerous
Flies actually represent a
large part of metazoan
diversity. There are about 1
million named insect species.
http://www.coolinfographics.com/blog/2008/12/5/the-species-scape.html
With ~152,000 named
species and many more
unnamed species, flies
account for no less than 1 in
10 species on Earth
And most of those species
are living lives that benefit
the environment
http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/mg/entomology/intro.html
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
http://insects.tamu.edu/students/undergrad/ento402/Arthropoda_files/Arthropoda_number_organisms.html
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Evolution of the
How many insect species? Difficult to
Flies
know for sure
Some of the numbers of 1. There are many
named insects species are: families/sub-orders
of Dipterans
Beetles, 360,000
Butterflies and Moths: 2. There’s lots of
170,000 diversity among them
Flies: 120,000-150,000+
Bees, wasps and ants: 110,000 3. Families vary in size/
number of species
True bugs: 82,000
Grasshoppers: 20,000 4. Some of the sub-
Dragonflies: 5,000 orders & families are
http://insects.tamu.edu/students/undergrad/ento402/Arthropoda_files/Arthropoda_number_organ
quite ancient, while
isms.html
others are more
recent
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
http://www.pnas.org/content/108/14/5690/F3.large.jpg
How old are the Some ancient Dipterans
Dipterans? look very similar to
today’s species
http://www.fossilmall.com/EDCOPE_Enterprises/Insects/I2/I2.htm
50 million year old Crane Fly
Dipterans are successful insects that
have succeeded – and diversified –
over time
http://www.internal.schools.net.au/edu/lesson_ideas/dinosaurs/dino_wksht3.html
They must be well-adapted to their
http://destinationofmarvel.blogspot.com/2010/10/geological-timeline.html
3,125 species are known only from fossils environment(s) – and tough (survived
The oldest, a limoniid crane fly, is some 225 MILLION years massive climate changes in past)
old (Upper Triassic (Carnian). © Project SOUND
http://www.amberabg.com/a_for_sale/inclusions_zd22.html
© Project SOUND
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http://biokeys.berkeley.edu/inverts/diptera.html
The true flies (Diptera) One of the most species Distinguishing Diptera
rich, anatomically varied
and ecologically innovative (true flies) from bees
groups of organisms
Diptera have only one pair of
An estimated 150,000+ wings; a second pair of wings
species of Diptera have
evolved into small dumb-bell
been described, however,
the total number of extant
shaped "halteres", which are
fly species is many times used for balance during flight.
greater. Typical Fly (The two-winged fly is an
advancement in flight; that why
The living dipteran species flies can hover)
have been classified into
about : No stinger
10,000 genera, 150
families Sucking mouthparts
22-32 superfamilies
8-10 infraorders Very large, compound eyes
2 suborders
Antennae: either long or short.
© Project SOUND http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-identify-the-basic-body-parts-of-honey-bees.html © Project SOUND
Bee mimics are common
Full 4-stage life cycle (like a butterfly)
among Dipterans
Some flies, such as syrphids,
Egg - laid in a variety of
masquerade as bees and wasps.
environments, based on
However, the pollinating flies can
The syrphid fly is a bee mimic.
species
Photo by Beatriz Moisset 2002-2004.
be distinguished with a sharp eye –
or better yet, a camera. Larva – usually several
stages – wide variation in
The flies have only one pair of
food sources (parasitic;
wings while bees and wasps have
plant; dung; decaying
two pairs of wings.
matter
Comical, robust and extremely hairy
Pupa – brief or may
are the bee flies (bombylids), some
include a hibernation
with tongues as long as their
bodies! Adult
The tachnid fly is similar in general
appearance to bees or wasps.
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
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Flies have gotten a bad reputation
Flies have been disliked in many cultures
Just a few species of flies
command the most public attention
Among them are important pests:
House flies – pesky; bite; carriers
Horse flies “
Mosquitoes “
Housefly: Musca domestica
Blow-flies flies
http://avaxhome.ws/video/fly_tales.html
But their attributes have been
elevated to hero status in
others
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse-fly
Blue-bottle Fly: a common Blow-fly
http://ohdannyboy.blogspot.com/2011/08/unseen-fly-justice-of-chen-fang.html
© Project SOUND Horse-fly: family Tabanidae © Project SOUND
Why don’t we hear more about the good Why we should worry about Dipterans:
Dipterans? importance of flies to ecosystems
They are harder to study &
watch/photograph/raise Pollinators
They are less specialized – Pest control agents – aphids,
people tend to like to study beetle grubs, moth caterpillars
specialized creatures
Food for others (bats; reptiles;
They are not as cute as other fish; birds; other insects)
pollinators – ‘fuzzy bees’ – lacking
Decomposers & soil conditioners
in the charisma department
Water quality indicators
They have gotten a bad rap – the
‘yuck factor’ And much more (including some
functions we probably don’t even
They need a new PR person
know yet)
http://www.zazzle.com/house_fly_t_shirt-235110274153973276
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816203001280
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
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Why worry about pollinators? Why worry about Dipterans? Can’t the
Pollinators are “keystone organisms” bees do the pollination work?
in most terrestrial ecosystems.
Pollinators are essential for Flies and bees are the two most
maintaining the integrity, important insect pollinator groups.
productivity and sustainability of
many types of ecosystems: natural Over 71 families of Diptera are
areas, pastures, fields, meadows, known to visit and pollinate
roadsides, many agricultural crops, flowers, linking the fate of plants
fruit orchards, and backyard
and animals.
vegetable and flower gardens.
Without insect pollinators, many Depending on the region, the time
flowering plants would eventually It turns out the pollination is of the day, the flowering
become extinct. a lot more complex than phenology and weather conditions,
flies may be the main or
Without the work of pollinators, early agricultural studies
exclusive pollinators, or share
many fruit- and seed-eating birds lead us to believe
pollination services with bees and
and some mammals, including people,
would have a less varied and less other pollinator groups.
healthy diet. © Project SOUND © Project SOUND
Even before colony collapse disorder, Diptera – our oldest and most wide-
some people were concerned… spread pollinators
Depending on a single source
Diptera, the true flies, are an
– for anything – should make
important, but neglected
us all nervous
group of pollinators.
Better to ‘diversify the
portfolio’ – Dipterans are a They are an ancient group,
part and were probably among the
first pollinators of early
flowering plants.
Flies live almost everywhere
http://therealnewsjournal.com/?tag=colony-collapse-disorder in terrestrial ecosystems –
http://urbangardencasual.com/2009/04/28/possible-cure-
arctics to tropics
for-honey-bee-colony-collapse-disorder-discovered/
Are abundant in most
European Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
terrestrial habitats
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
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Fly pollinators: specialists & generalists In some situations, flies are the main
pollinators, so they clearly have potential
Dipterans are an extremely diverse
group, varying in mouth parts, tongue
length, size and degree of pilosity. In some habitats, such as the
forest under-story where shrubs
The diversity of flower-visiting flies is may produce small, inconspicuous,
reflected in their effectiveness as dioecious flowers, flies seem to be
pollinators. Some flies, such as long- particularly important pollinators.
http://www.geraniumsonline.com/pollination.htm tongued tabanids of South Africa,
have specialized relationships with
In arctic and alpine environments,
individual flower genera/species (much
under conditions of reduced bee
like some bees/butterflies)
activity, flies are often the main
Other flies are generalists, feeding pollinators of open, bowl-shaped
from a wide variety of flowers. But flowers, with readily accessible
they like to visit many of the same pollen and nectar.
type while they’re in the neighborhood
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
http://scienceblogs.com/myrmecos/2008/12/31/slurp/
How do the Dipterans compare to other
How does Mother Nature play it safe with pollinators? The experts say…
regards to pollination?
Many flies are generalists; their contributions
to plant reproductive success are sometimes
Most insect pollinated flowers receive visits discounted because of their reputation as
from several different types of insects: ineffective pollinators.
bees, flies, beetles, bugs, etc.
However, the complexity of interactions in
In a study of 2200 CA plant species: redundant pollination systems is little studied
& deserves further attention.
By hedging her odds
71% of the out-crossing species were visited
by two potential pollinators When multiple pollinator species visit the
49% were visited by three or more potential same flowers, their respective value as
pollinators pollinators is interdependent and may
differ from year-to-year or even over the
Redundancy in pollination systems is
course of the flowering season.
probably the rule, rather than the
exception. Inefficient pollinators are needed when the
more efficient pollinators are absent
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
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Bee vs Fly pollination: the tortoise & the hare Oregon study: Mountain Meadows -
Presence of host plant pollen
Conditions affecting bee populations can be
Syrphid flies Bumble bee
quite different from those affecting fly
populations due to the great difference in
larval requirements.
Many types of flies have few hairs when
compared to bees, and pollen is less likely to
adhere to the body surface. But under
conditions when bees are scarce, an
inefficient pollinator is better than none.
Higher flight activities of flies may well
compensate lower pollen carrying capacity.
Even in cases where honeybees are abundant
on flowers and specialised bees are foraging,
flower flies (Syrphidae) can be the most
effective pollinators producing the highest Present Absent
seed set. © Project SOUND
Cultivated plants pollinated by flies
So what kinds of plants are known to be
More than 100 cultivated crops are regularly visited by flies and
Dipteran pollinated? depend largely on fly pollination for abundant fruit set and seed
production . Examples:
At least seventy-one of the 150
Diptera families include flies that The cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao)
feed at flowers as adults. Tropical fruits such as Mango (Mangifera indica), Capsicum annuum and
Piper nigrum, pawpaw (Asimina triloba)
More than 550 species of flowering Fruit-bearing Rosaceae: Apple (Malus domestica) and Pear (Pyrus
communis) trees, strawberries (Fragaria vesca, F. x ananassa), Prunus
plants are regularly visited by
species (cherries, plums, apricot and peach), Sorbus species (e.g.
Diptera that are potential Rowanberry) and most of the Rubus-species (Raspberry, Blackberry,
pollinators. And that’s just the tip Cloudberry etc.) as well as the wild rose
Drone fly pollinating aster of the iceberg: few fly pollinator Spices and vegetable plants of the family Apiaceae like fennel (Foeniculum
surveys exist! vulgare), coriander (Coriandrum sativum), caraway (Carum carvi), kitchen
onions (Allium cepa), parsley (Petroselinum crispum) and carrots (Daucus
Diptera have been documented to carota)
be primary pollinators for many In addition a large number of wild relatives of food plants, numerous
plant species, both wild and medicinal plants and cultivated garden plants benefit from fly
cultivated. pollination.
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
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What native plants attract fly pollinators? Why are these plants ‘insect magnets’?
The ‘insect-magnet’ plants
Sunflower family (Asteraceae)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolia)
Goldenrods (Solidago & Euthamia spp.)
Fall-blooming shrubs (Baccharis; Ericameria; Goldenbushes,
Tarplants
Rose family
Pink and white-flowered species
The Buckwheats (Eriogonum spp.)
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
Western Yarrow – Achilla millefolia The Yarrows – horticultural plants extraordinaire
Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower
family)
Cultivated in Europe ??thousands
of years
About half a dozen species are
commonly grown as garden plants
Natural variation in color has been
exploited – many named cultivars –
yellow, pink, red, purple
The species name, millefolium-of a
thousand leaves-describes the
fine, feathery foliage which
resembles a fern.
http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/Cornell_Herbaceous
/plant_pages/Achilleamillefolium.html
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Western Yarrow – Achilla millefolia Western Yarrow can be used in many ways!
Found in most of CA Slopes, hillsides
60-100 species of Achillia Mixtures
worldwide – northern
hemisphere Good garden plant for fresh or dry
floral arrangements
In CA, found in seasonally wet
places: Foliage is pleasantly fragrant when
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?609,615,616 crushed – used for tea, medicinals
Meadows and pastures
Along stream edges Can be mowed to form a highly
In sand dunes competitive ground cover to
control soil erosion.
Along alkali sinks
On coastal strand Flowers!!!
In coastal grasslands
In Coastal Sage Scrub and Good butterfly/insect plant
Chaparral
http://linnaeus.nrm.se/flora/di/astera/achil/achimilv.jpg J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Success with Yarrow Why Yarrow makes a good lawn substitute
is almost guaranteed
Spreads quickly, giving good
Yarrow can endure dry, cover
impoverished soil Super for banks and other areas
that can’t easily be mowed
Survives with little
maintenance – neglect Spreading habit inhibits weeds
Best in full sun; grows but less Can be mowed – occasionally and
flowering in shade on high setting w/ rotary mower
A true perennial taking two Companion plant – attracts
beneficial insects, repels others
years to become established
Does well on poor, dry, sandy
Included in most commercial soils where other plants grow
mixed ‘native lawn’ mixes poorly
http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/yarrow.JPG
Gary A. Monroe @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
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What is it about Yarrow that attracts? So we’ve discovered one type of ‘fly plant’
Myophily
Adult flies feed on nectar & pollen; less
often on fruit
Common examples: bee flies
(Bombyliidae), hoverflies (Syrphidae)
Regularly visit flowers to feed, while also
pollinating.
Sapromyophily
Adults normally visit dead animals or
White/pink color dung to lay eggs.
Many tiny flowers per cluster; many clusters per plant Attracted to flowers that mimic these
Flower structure relative open; easy to access odoriferous items. These plants have a
strong, unpleasant odor, and are brown
Floral clusters relatively flat – also allows easy access
Skunk cabbage's strong smell or orange in color.
+/- Sweet scent and dark color attract carrion The plant may have traps to slow them
Produce lots of high quality nectar & pollen flies that lay their eggs thinking
down and become inadvertent pollinators
© Project SOUND
that it is rotting flesh. © Project SOUND
Pale color (whites, pinks, What native plants attract fly pollinators?
Myophily fly flowers purples and blues most common)
The ‘insect-magnet’ plants
Dull surface; may be nectar
Sunflower family (Asteraceae)
guides
Yarrow (Achillea millefolia)
Produce abundant pollen Native Thistles (Cirsium)
Goldenrods (Solidago & Euthamia spp.)
Produce high quality nectar Fall-blooming shrubs (Baccharis; Ericameria; Goldenbushes
Flower are open; nectar easily Rose family
available Pink and white-flowered species
Male and female parts of the The Buckwheats (Eriogonum spp.)
flower are well exposed.
Native Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.)
Many of these flowers are
The Mustard family (Brassicaceae)
Buckwheats (Eriogonum) are good scented, but for the most part,
candidates as fly flowers the scent is imperceptible. Euphorbia & Sedum species
© Project SOUND
The Carrot family (Apiaceae) © Project SOUND
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Water Parsley – Oenanthe sarmentosa Water Parsley – Oenanthe sarmentosa
Coastal California to
British Columbia Canada;
also western Sierra
foothills
Local historically: Ballona,
West LA, San Pedro, Long
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?329,478,480 Beach (Bixby Ranch)
Grows in marshes, ditches,
pond edges, slow-moving
streams, seasonally wet
places, from near coastline
up to ~ 5000 ft.
© 2002 Brad Kelley
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
© 2006, G. D. Carr
Large plants in the Carrot Family Queen Anne’s Lace: natural roadsides
and grandmother’s garden
Actually a garden escape – like ‘Wild
Mustard’ or ‘Wild Radish’ – a weed that has
naturalized extensively.
A true carrot - Daucus carota;
domesticated carrots are cultivars of
Daucus carota ssp. sativus.
Native to temperate regions of Europe,
southwest Asia
The plant was introduced into this country
during colonial times. It probably came
* Henderson’s Angelica – across the ocean in sacks of grain, perhaps
Water Parsley – Angelica hendersonii with the Pilgrims.
Common Cowparsnip – Oenanthe
sarmentosa
Heracleum maximum Should NOT be planted – use our natives
4-8 ft. tall; very large coarse leaves
from the Carrot family instead.
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
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Size:
Looks rather like Leaf Celery 2-4 ft tall
Flowers are numerous
2-3 ft wide Blooms
Late spring to summer: usually
Growth form: May to July in Western L.A.
Herbaceous perennial; dies County
back in fall/winter
Weak, succulent stems Flowers:
Many-branched Tiny white flowers typical of the
Carrot family (Apiaceae); old-
© 2003 Lee Dittmann Foliage: fashioned look
Compound leaves - oddly Flowers more loosely packed –
pinnate (simple or double) – can usually see the compound
margins coarsely toothed umbels easily
Overall shape triangular Flowers attract a wide range of
Anise Swallowtail larval food nectaring insects: butterflies,
Handle with gloves – may native bees, flies & others
cause skin allergies
Seeds:
Roots: fibrous roots and slender Flat, ribbed seeds
white rhizomes - spreads © 2004, Ben Legler
Use fresh seeds; multiple rinses
© 2011 Zoya Akulova © Project SOUND © Project SOUND
Easy to grow with Soils: Water Parsley in the Garden
Texture: most
adequate water Excellent choice for large containers – can
pH: any local
provide the moisture it needs + contain
Light: Around ponds, water gardens; in pots in
Full sun to light/dappled shallow water
shade for good flowering Moist woodland habitat gardens
Seeds/roots used as an emetic, pounded
Water: roots used as a laxative
Winter: tolerates very moist
conditions, even shallow
standing water
Summer: like moist soil –
Water Zones 2-3 or 3
Fertilizer:
Fine with light fertilizer
Leaf mulch will add some
nutrients
Other: organic mulch http://flickriver.com/photos/eastbaywilds/sets/7
© Project SOUND 2157621911287568/ © 2012 Aaron Arthur © Project SOUND
© 2004, Ben Legler
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What pollinator flies will we attract with Family Large family: ~ 6000 named species
Water Parsley? Syrphidae Often called syrphids, hover flies, flower
flies or sweat bees. Small/medium size
The most important fly pollinators Occur in wide range of habitats worldwide:
are Hover Flies (Syrphid flies) and dunes, salt/freshwater marsh, all grassland
Bee Flies (Bombyliidae family) ecosystems, scrub and forest-ecosystems
There are many others that visit Lots of variability – example: short- and
flowers to feed on nectar. very long-tongued species
The common fly pollinators have
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/diptera/Syrphidae.htm
Visit wide range of flowers and can
developed yellow and black stripes transport pollen long distances
on their abdomens, though they Important pollinators: regional studies in
are not related to bees or wasps. Europe (Ssymank 2001) showed that up to
This is probably a defense 80% of the regional flora may be visited by
mechanism to deter predators; flower flies. Important in local habitats.
flies pretending to be stinging
insects, though they cannot sting. Very convincing mimicry of bees and wasps:
black with yellow or orange; narrow waist
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
Family Adults feed on pollen and nectar, Why do flies visit flowers?
larvae eat plant materials or are
Syrphidae predators on other insects, most The most important is for food : nectar and sometimes
notably aphids (~ 40% of species pollen. Pollen is rich in proteins, which is required by some
are predators). adult flies before they can reproduce.
Female hover fly usually lays her To lay eggs: the larvae feed on flower heads, developing
eggs near aphid colonies. The fly fruits/seeds or insect pests
larvae feed on insect pests, mainly
aphids, as well as scales and Because they’ve been tricked (scent/appearance that mimics
caterpillars. the carcasses where they normally lay their eggs)
Aphids cause annual damage to To keep warm: in arctic and alpine habitats, some flowers
crops and plants, making the hover attract flies by providing a warm shelter.
flies important agents in natural As rendezvous sites for mating. Large numbers of flies will
biological control. congregate at a particular type of flower
Routinely used as a biological
control agents in many agricultural
crops like California lettuce. the byproduct of all these behaviors can be pollination
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
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Showy Milkweed – Asclepias speciosa Showy Milkweed – Asclepias speciosa
Western N. America from Canada to
Baja; throughout CA
Open areas at low elevations in dry
to moist, loamy to sandy soil
Often in areas that are seasonally
flooded or quite damp
© 2004 George W. Hartwell
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?583,586,599
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/floramw/species/asclspec.htm
Showy Milkweed: a stout perennial Flowers are…showy!
Size:
Blooms:
2-5+ ft tall In summer: May-Sept
Spreading by rhizomes; often
usually July-Aug in our area
forms a clump
Flowers:
Growth form:
Large compared to other
Drought/winter deciduous milkweeds ; sweet scent
perennial
Pale pink or purple – in
Stems stout, succulent, erect or
dense, ball-like clusters
nearly so
Very showy in bloom – among
Foliage: our prettiest perennials
Leaves large 96-8 inches long),
Seeds:
gray-green, velvety
Relatively large, with silky
Milky sap typical of Milkweeds
parachute (typical of
Larval food, Monarch Butterflies milkweeds)
Roots: stout taproot; don’t move once Seed pods are 3-5" long and
© 2005, Ben Legler
established. are either spiny or smooth.
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
© 2005, Ben Legler
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