Mir Samar Rashid, Munazah Yaqoob, M.A. Mantoo, Tauseef Ahmad Bhat, Fahem Jeelani Wani, Amjad Masood, Liyaqat Ayoub, Abu Manzar and Mudasir Gani Bhat
Abstract
Syrphid flies are a very important group of insects in ecosystem from viewpoint of pollination and biological control. The vast majority of species are terrestrial; with only a few being aquatic or inhabiting exceptionally damp habitats. However, the larvae of various species inhabit diverse habitats where they act as predators of sucking pests, as scavengers, as mycophagous insects and also survivors under heavily polluted water. Because of their diverse habitat, hover flies are less affected by urbanisation and modern agriculture. Floral host preference of 15 most abundant syrphid fly species was assessed towards 57 species of flowering plants belonging to 10 families. The syrphid flies of North Kashmir region includes Eristalis tenax, Eristalis arbustorum, Episyrphusbalteatus, Eristalinus aeneus, Eupeodus corolla, Sphaerophoria scripta, Eoseristaliscerealis, Helophilustrivittatus, Syrittapipiens, Scaevapyrastri, Eristalinustaeniops, Betasyrphussererius, Ischiodonscutellaris, Sphaerophoriaphilanthus, and Eristalinus megacephalus. Coriandrum sativum, Cirsium arvense, Launaea procumbens, Allium cepa, Brassica juncea, Taraxacum officinale, Calendula officinalis, Malus domestica, Pisum sativum and Daucus carota were visited by maximum number of syrphid fly species. Eristalis tenax, Eristalisarbustorum, Eristalinus aeneus, Ischiodonscutellaris, Sphaerophoria scripta, Sphaerophoriaphilanthus and Episyrphusbalteatus were the most frequent floral visitors and also visited maximum number of plant species. Most of the syrphid fly species preferred white and yellow colored actinomorphic flowers.