If we get a wet spring we may find the bees struggle to get active this year. It’s time to have hives prepared and help the bees by adding attractants. In a very wet season expect to see many hoverflies doing the hard work – don’t spray them and make sure they have healthy inter row habitat. If we do get a lot of hoverfly we can look forward to many larvae predating on pests early in the season.
For further information see our article on Bees and Pollination: https://extensionaus.com.au/ozapplepearipdm/think-pollination/
and Agriculture Victoria factsheet on Hoverflies: https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/pest-insects-and-mites/priority-pest-insects-and-mites/hover-flies
Hover fly larva predating on an aphid (Photo credit: David Cappaert, Bugwood.org)
Adult hover fly on finger to illustrate size (Photo credit: Timothy Gibb, Purdue Agriculture)
Hover fly collecting pollen (Photo credit: Steve Schoof, North Carolina State University)
Article reviewed by Greg Lefoe (Agriculture Victoria)
