Journal of Bioresource Management

Volume 1 Issue 2 Article 2

Review: Role of Syrphids (Diptera: Syrphidae) as Biotic Agents and Pollinators in

Mohammad Irshad Honey Bee Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, [email protected]

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Recommended Citation Irshad, M. (2014). Review: Role of Syrphids (Diptera: Syrphidae) as Biotic Agents and Pollinators in Pakistan, Journal of Bioresource Management, 1 (2). DOI: 10.35691/JBM.4102.0007 ISSN: 2309-3854 online

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This article is available in Journal of Bioresource Management: https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/jbm/vol1/ iss2/2 Irshad,: Role of Syrphids (Diptera: Syrphidae)

J. Bioresource Manage. (2014) 1(2): 1-9.

REVIEW: ROLE OF SYRPHIDS (DIPTERA: SYRPHIDAE) AS BIOTIC AGENTS AND POLLINATORS IN PAKISTAN

Mohammad Irshad

Conservation and Management of Pollinators for Sustainable Agriculture, through an Ecosystem Approach project, Honey Bee Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad.

Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

The agriculture sector is important in the overall economy of Pakistan. There are many limiting factors in crop production. The two important factors are pest damage and pollination in addition to many others. Pest damage remained a serious problem since the dawn of human civilization. With the advancement of knowledge regarding safety of environment, pests are now tackled through Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques. In IPM, biological control through use of natural enemies is quite significant and the favored approach. Pollination is an essential ecosystem service. Effective pollination results in increased crop production, quality improvement and more seed production. One of the important groups of pollinators is Syrphid. About 84 are reported from Pakistan. However, they have not been practically and effectively applied in both IPM and pollination contexts.

Key words: Syrphids, biocontrol, pollination, Pakistan.

INTRODUCTION production. The two most important factors are pest damage and pollination. Pest damage remained a Food security is of strategic serious problem since the dawn of significance for a country. The human civilization. Pests include prosperity and welfare of a nation , diseases, weeds and lies on this. The Agriculture sector is vertebrates. These had been mostly the major contributor in the overall dealt with by using pesticides. With economy of Pakistan. There are the advancement of knowledge many limiting factors in crop regarding the safety of the

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J. Bioresource Manage. (2014) 1(2): 1-9. environment, pests are now tackled Irshad and Khan (2005) compiled the through Integrated Pest Managemnt list of syrphids of Pakistan. Later on (IPM) techniques. In IPM, biological it was expanded and modified control through use of natural (Irshad et al., 2013; Irshad and enemies is quite significant and the Stephen, 2013a). This list was favored approach. It has been further modified and published successful in some crops and the (Ghoprade and Shezad, 2013). environment. In Pakistan, this has resulted in the popularity of this General Biology and Biological system. Control

Pollination is important for Adult females emerge with an crop production in Pakistan, as it is undeveloped reproductive system and elsewhere (Irshad and Stephen, require a protein source to mature 2014). Pollination is the transfer of eggs. The principal food of adult pollen from one flower to another syrphids is pollen and nectar. Mating and is critical to fruit and seed often takes place on the wing. Some production. Many fruits, vegetables, species form male swarms. The edible oil crops, stimulant crops and fecundity is between 500 to 1,500. The nuts are highly dependent on white eggs are generally laid singly on pollination. Worldwide value of the underside of the leaves. The eggs pollinators is €153 billion (217 are laid in small groups in a row. The billion US dollars) (Gallai et al., duration of the egg stage is about 5 2008). The production value of days. The larvae are active between pollinated dependent crops in dusk and dawn. They have sucking Pakistan is 1.59 billion US$. Of the mouthparts. Prey consumption rate in total value, fruits are dominant with the laboratory varies from 135 0.98 billion, vegetables 0.32 billion, to 550. Larval development can be nuts 0.15 billion, oilseed 0.13 billion completed in 10 days but more and spices 0.004 billion US $ (Irshad frequently extends to about 40 days. and Stephen, 2013). The majority of Some species pupate on the foliage the pollinator fauna of Pakistan is near the feeding site, while others comprised of insects belonging to the leave the plant and enter the soil to orders hymenoptera and diptera. pupate. There may be five to seven Hymenoptera is one of the largest generations per year. The majority of orders of insects. Some other the syrphids are multivoltine and over pollinators belong to Lepidoptera winter as final instar larvae, pupae or and Coleoptera. In diptera Syrphids adults. Syrphids have occasionally are important agents. The syrphid been used in classical biological fauna of Pakistan was not control. The adults need flowers as consolidated until Irshad (2003) and nectar and pollen sources. They are

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attracted to weedy borders or mixed time. The developmental period is garden plantings that are infested the lowest of 16 days when fed on with aphids. Sitobion avenae (F.) as against 19 days on Myzus obtusirrostris David Important Species and Shizaphis graminum (Rondani). The mean consumption during the The important species of development varies markedly, the syrphids are given below. lowest being 392 of Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch.) as against 1,058 of M. Ceria dimidiatipennis obtustiostris (CIBC, 1976). Brunetti. It has been collected from Abbottabad, Kashmir, Hangue, Eristalis tenax Linnaeus. It Quetta, Swat. It is quite abundant in has been reported from Ghora Gali, the country. Lahore, Murree; Multan, Mungawal, Peshawar, Sibi, Ziarat. It is also Episyrphus balteatus widely distributed and is fairly DeGeer. It has been reported from abundant in the country. Abbottabad, Batrasi, Charsadda, Dargai, Dir, Faisalabad, Ghari laetus Habibullah, Ghora Gali, Hangu, Wiederman. These are found in Jehlum, Kharan, Kohat, Lahore, Multan, Panjur, Peshawar, Quetta, Makran, Mardan, Murree, Multan, and Ziarat, and are the most abundant Mungawal, Nowshera, Parachinar, species in Multan. Paras, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Swat, Tall, Tando Jam, Timurgarh Wied. It and Wah. Thus it is widely distributed was collected from Jhang, Multan, in the country. Its hosts include Pishin, Quetta. Erisoma lanigerum (Hsm.) (Aphididae: Hemiptera) Adelges corollae Fab. It is joshii s.o.s. (Adelgidae: Hemiptera). reported from Faisalabad, Ghora It is quite abundant species. The Gali, Lahore, Multan, Mungawal, duration of egg, larval, pupal stage Murree, Parachinar, and Peshawar. Its and total development period is 2-3, hosts are Melanspis sacchari Zehn., 15-19, 13-15 and 30-37 days, Rhopalosiphom maidis Fitch., S. respectively. Eggs are observed in graminum (Aphididae: Hemipetra). last week of February and grubs can Its female to male ratio is 1:0.75. be seen feeding on the food in Each female lays 143-232 eggs. March. Both adults and grubs can be Development averages 3 days for seen in April-July. It appears to be egg stage, 7 days for larval, 1 day for multivoltine. It can consume 393- pre-pupal, 7 days for pupal and 5 1005 aphids in 16-20 days of larval days for adult stage. Up to 400

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aphids are consumed by the larval persicae (Sulz.) (Aphididae: stage with 90 % consumption by 3rd Hemiptera). Each female can lay 235 instar. It can reduce population eggs with hatching of 65%. Heavy by 74 % when the predator to prey infested plants with aphids are ratio is 1:80 at the infestation level of preferred. Aphid population is 500-600 aphids per plant (CIBC, reduced by 84% after 25 days of 1976). It is quite an abundant release. species. Syrphus confrator Ischiodon scutellaris Wiederman. It is reported from Fabracius It is distributed in Ghora Galiat, Lahore, Murree. It preys upon Gali, Murree, Multan, and A. joshii (Adelgidae: Hem.), E. Mungawal. It is the second most lanigerum (Aphididae:Hem.). Its abundant species in Multan (Sajjad incubation period is 2-3 days at and Saeed, 2010). 20oC, larval period is 11-20 days, pre pupal period is less than a day, and Paragus. indicus Brun. It has pupal period is 8-15 days. Its adults been collected from Balakot, become active in the last week of Faisalabad, Murree, Parachinar, April. The grubs are common in Peshawar, Swat, and Timurgarh. It March. Both larvae and pupae are preys upon M. sacchari, M. found in April. The species seems to obtusirostris , R. maidis, S. graminum be multivoltine with overlapping (Aphididae: Hemiptera). It is quite generations. abundant. Pollination Ability Paragus serratus Fabracius. It is reported from Butkhela, Dir. Many Rosaceous flowers are Faisalabad, Karachi, Malakand, visited and at least partly pollinated Multan, Parachinar, Peshawar, and by syrphidae. The fruit plants include Swat. It preys upon M. sacchari, apple, pear, strawberries cherries, Myzus obtusirostris David, R. maidis, plums, apricot and peach. They also S. graminum (Aphididae: Hemiptera). pollinate tropical fruits such as mango and Piper, and visit a number . pyrastri Lin. It has of spices and vegetable plants of the been collected from Abbottabad, family Apiaceae like fennel, Chitral, Dargi, Hangu, Kohat, Lahore, coriander, onions, and carrots. Murree, Parachinar, Paras, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Timurgarh, Swat, Thall The syrphids collected from and Wah. Its food consists of Aphis various crops in Pakistan during the gossypii (Glov.), Lipaphis flowering period possibly pollinating pseudobrassicae (Davis), Myzus them are given below.

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Apple: Eristalis tenax Alfa Alfa :Cerioides sp., Linnaeus, Eristalinus arvorum Episyrphus sp., Eristalis sp., Scaena Fabricius, Episyrphus balteatus sp., Syritta sp., Syrphus sp (Ahmad, DeGeer, 1976). Fabricius, Ischiodon scutellaris Fabricius (Shezad, 2011). In Multan, a total of 51 species of flowering plants in 28 Bitter gourd: Eristalinus families were observed for the aeneus (Scopli) (Saeed et al., 2012.). syrphid . Of the recorded plant species, 11 were agricultural crops Litchi: Eristalis arvorum, and the remaining 40 plant species Eristalis solitus Walker, Episyrphus were wild plants, shrubs or trees. balteatus, Eupeodes confrater Among the syrphids, 5 species Wied., Eupeodes corollae, belonged to the Eristalinus (E. Sphaerophoria indiana Bigot, aeneus, E. laetus, E. taeniops, E. Ischiodon scutellaris, Melanostoma arvorum and E. quadristriatus), and orientale Weid., (Ali et al., 2013). others like, Episyrphus balteatus, Syritta pippins, Ischiodon scutellaris, Mango: Eristalis tenax, Eristalis tenax, Melanostoma sp., Eristalinus arvorum, Episyrphus Sphaerophoria bengalensis, Scaeva balteatus, Eupeodes corollae, latimaculata, Eupeodes corollae, Ischiodon scutellaris (Shezad, 2011). Paragus serratus and Mesembrius bengalensis were single in their Onion: Episyrphus balteatus, genera. The most abundant syrphid . (Scopli), species included E. aeneus, followed Eupeodes corolla, Eristalinus by I. scutellaris and E. balteatus arvorum (Fabracius) (Sajjad and Saeed, 2010). According Lathyrophthalmus quadristriatus to Sajjad et al., 2010 mango flowers (Macquart). , Mesembrius were visited by maximum number of bengalensis (Wieid.) (Saeed et al., syrphid species. An abundance of 2008; Sajjad et al., 2008). was correlated with floral abundance. Toria and Sarson: Eristalis tenax, Eristalodes taeniops (Wied.), CONCLUSION Eristalinus aeneus (Scopli), Ischiodon scutellaris, Scaeva The injury by pests albmacaculata (Macquart), sometimes may be so severe that Sphaerophoria indiana Bigot economic yield of a crop may not be (Rahman, 1942). possible. In many cases, economic returns have only been possible by chemical control in addition to some

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other inputs. The most widely to prefer white and yellow coloured practiced method, the chemical flowers. control is now often widely criticized for its ill effects, and especially for Sometimes, bee-pollinated disturbing the ecological open flowers produced fewer seeds system/balance. Irshad (2008) per plant than those pollinated by described the importance of syrphids. Fruit production increased Syrphidae as biotic predatory insects. with pollinator diversity.

There are various reason of Syrphid can be as pollination deficit such as loss, abundant as bees at flowers or even destruction and degradation of more so. Although not as proficient habitats excessive tillage, destruction as bees at pollinating flowers, they of trees, extensive weeding, do a fair amount of transporting deforestation, reduced genetic pollen from blossom to blossom. In diversity of nectar plants, pests and fact, some small flowers, flat, open, pathogens, climate change, extensive easy to reach, can be pollinated and intensive use of pesticides entirely by these little flies if there especially insecticides and are no bees around. Syrphid flies herbicides. All these factors may pollinate some crops almost as individually or in combination are efficiently as bees do. The individual causing the deficit. Hoverflies are flies may not be very efficient, but if important pollinators of flowering they are abundant enough they make plants in a variety of ecosystems in up in numbers what they lack in Pakistan. About 6,000 species in 200 skill. Hoverflies require genera have been described in rhe approximately five-fold densities of world. There are more than 84 the red mason bees to reach a similar species of syrphid flies in Pakistan. fruit set and yield. The natural They are often seen hovering at pollinator taxa, however, are of flowers. The adults of many species potential value in open and closed feed mainly on nectar and pollen. crop production systems. Each They are second most important visitor has its own pollination group of pollinators after wild bees. effectiveness, depending on Although hoverflies are often behavioural characteristics like considered to be mainly non- flower constancy, foraging speed, selective pollinators some hoverflies pollen load on the body, and pollen species are highly selective and carry deposition. pollen from one plant species. Specific flower preferences differ Episyrphus balteatus is a between species, but syrphid fly quite widespread species in Pakistan species have repeatedly been shown with better biotic potential. It has

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been well studied, therefore this agriculture confronted with species could be a good candidate for pollinator decline. Ecol. biological control and pollination. It Econ. 68, 810-821. can be conserved with recommended methods. Moreover its mass rearing Ghorpade K and Shezad A (2013). should be attempted. An annotated checklist and select bibliography of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS hover flies (Diptera:- Syrphidae) of Pakistan, The financial support of Indian sub continent. GEf/FAO Project Conservation and Colemania. 37, 1-26. Management of Pollinators for Sustainable Agriculture, through an Irshad M (2003). Parasitoids, Ecosystem Approach project, is predators and pathogens of gratefully acknowledged. agricultural and forest pests of Pakistan. National IPM, REFERENCES National Agricultural Research Center. Islamabad. Ali S, Shehzad A, Rafi, MA and Zia Perfect Printers Blue area A (2013). Insect pollinators Islamabad. pp 78. of Litchi (Litchi chinensis) from District Haripur, Irshad M (2008). Biological control Pakistan. Pak. J. Agric. Res. of insect and weeds in 26(3), 220-229. Pakistan. Higher education commission ,Islamabad pp Ahmad R (1976). A note on insect 315. pollinators of alfalfa in Pakistan. New Zeal. Entomol. Irshad M and Khan MR (2005). 6(2), 190- 191. Insect pests of plants and their parasitoids, predators CIBC (1976). Natural enemies of and pathogens in Pakistan. graminaceous aphids. Final PIPS (Pvt) Limited. pp 72. Report, Pakistan Station, Commonwealth institute of Irshad M. Shezad A., Stephen E and Biological Control. pp 69. Rafi MA (2013). Species (Mimeographed). composition of Syrphidae (Diptera) of Pakistan. UNEP- Gallai N, Salles JM, Settele J and GEF-FAO Project, Vaissiere BE (2008). Islamabad. pp 9 (Unpub). Economic valuation of the vulnerability of world

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