Abstract
Australian horticulture relies heavily on the introduced managed honey bee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus 1758 (Hymenoptera: Apidae), to pollinate crops. Given the risks associated with reliance upon a single species, it would be prudent to identify other taxa that could be managed to provide crop pollination services. We reviewed the literature relating to the distribution, efficiency and management potential of a number of flies (Diptera) known to visit pollinator-dependent crops in Australia and worldwide. Applying this information, we identified the taxa most suitable to play a greater role as managed pollinators in Australian crops. Of the taxa reviewed, flower visitation by representatives from the dipteran families Calliphoridae, Rhiniidae and Syrphidae was frequently reported in the literature. While data available are limited, there was clear evidence of pollination by these flies in a range of crops. A review of fly morphology, foraging behaviour and physiology revealed considerable potential for their development as managed pollinators, either alone or to augment honey bee services. Considering existing pollination evidence, along with the distribution, morphology, behaviour and life history traits of introduced and endemic species, 11 calliphorid, two rhiniid and seven syrphid species were identified as candidates with high potential for use in Australian managed pollination services. Research directions for the comprehensive assessment of the pollination abilities of the identified taxa to facilitate their development as a pollination service are described. This triage approach to identifying species with high potential to become significant managed pollinators at local or regional levels is clearly widely applicable to other countries and taxa.
Highlights
Approximately 80% of crop plants are dependent on, or have their yield enhanced by, insect pollinators [1]
This review aims to examine the few existing reports of fly pollination against the characteristics associated with pollination success, in order to identify the fly taxa most likely to possess the relevant morphology, foraging behaviour and life history traits suitable for pollinating key target crops within Australia
A review of the pollination literature relating to avocado, berry, mango, lychee and vegetable seed crops revealed that representatives of three key families, the Calliphoridae, Rhiniidae and Syrphidae, are the most commonly reported fly taxa to visit crop flowers and/or play a role in crop pollination (Table 1)
Summary
Approximately 80% of crop plants are dependent on, or have their yield enhanced by, insect pollinators [1]. Flies are likely to represent a good alternative or supplemental option to bees because different species are present all year round and frequently visit flowers to feed on nectar and/or pollen to support key biological functions including flight and reproduction [18]. Being hairy, they pick up and move pollen from a wide variety of flowers [19,20]. Some fly taxa are already mass-reared with reasonably low inputs, manageable health and safety requirements and present negligible risk of disease transmission to existing wild pollinators when reared under screened colony conditions. We outline recommendations for further research required to develop the identified fly taxa for use in managed pollination services
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