Small patches of wildflowers sown in cities can be a good substitute for a natural meadow, according to a study which showed butterflies, bees and hoverflies like them just as much.
Councils are increasingly making space for wildflower meadows in cities in a bid to tackle insect decline, but their role in helping pollinating insects was unclear. Researchers working in the Polish city of Warsaw wanted to find out if these efforts were producing good results.
They found there was no difference in the diversity of species that visited sown wildflower meadows in cities compared with natural ones, according to the study published in the journal Ecological Entomology, and led by researchers from Warsaw University. The researchers said: “In inner-city areas, flower meadows can compensate insects for the lack of large natural meadows that are usually found in the countryside.”
“Hoverflies, also known as flower flies or syrphids, are beneficial insects that play an important role in the environment. They are often seen hovering around flowers, nectaring on them. Hoverflies are true flies that range in size from a few millimeters to 2 centimeters. They are often yellow and black with bands on their wings. They mimic bees and wasps to avoid predators. Hoverflies are harmless and do not have stingers.”
what the heck, how have I never known or heard about hoverflies before?
They were very common growing up in the 90’s but admittedly it’s been a long time since I last saw a single one.