With the varroa mite outbreak causing a mass exodus of bee hives across the Mid North Coast of NSW earlier this year, the need to find alternative pollinators has never been more pressing for the local agricultural industry.
Luckily, PhD candidate at the University of New England (UNE), Abby Davis, might have found the unexpected answer in a pesky group of insects that, until now, most of us would probably rather live without.
“From my research, I have found some specific fly species are effective pollinators of berry crops,” she says. “If these flies can be mass reared, or if growers are willing to support the habitat they need to reproduce on their farms, then perhaps flies can be used to help supplement bee pollination services.”
When flies are foraging on flowers, they may get pollen stuck on their legs, face, and the underside of their bodies, transporting it from one flower to another. This is pollination, even if they are doing so accidently!
While many people associate flies with garbage bins and bad smells, Abby explains that some species actually share a lot of similarities to the honey bee. For example, their hairy bodies are perfect for trapping and transporting pollen, while their diet is made up of floral resources such as nectar and pollen.
“While bees are purposefully collecting nectar and pollen to bring back to their hives or nests, flies are simply visiting flowers for food. When flies are foraging on flowers, they may get pollen stuck on their legs, face, and the underside of their bodies, transporting it from one flower to another. This is pollination, even if they are doing so accidentally!”
Much of Abby’s research has been conducted in the Coffs Harbour region of NSW, which is the largest producer of berries in Australia and an area that has been significantly impacted by the varroa mite outbreak.
Image: Syrphid fly, Eristalis tenax, visiting a blackberry flower at a commercial berry orchard on the NSW Mid North Coast. (Photographed by Abby Davis).
If managed properly, flies could soon become a key alternative or supplementary pollinator in the area, alleviating the strain on producers who currently rely on honey bees.
“Pollination is a critical ecosystem service. Agriculturally, we would not have foods, fuels, or fibres without pollination. Ecologically, the populations of many plant species would decline, which in turn would cause the animal food pyramid to crumble, since so many systems depend on plants in some way or another.”
Abby’s project took off when she was awarded the Sally Muir Postgraduate Research Award in 2021, which gave her the opportunity to delve deeper into flies as potential commercial pollinators of berry crops. Abby has also been able to conduct her research through the Rader Community Ecology Lab, which has seen her work alongside experts in the field, such as her supervisor, A/Prof Romina Rader.
I appreciate that everyone in the Rader Lab is pursuing different topics and has different academic backgrounds, so when we are all collaborating on something we each bring our own unique specialities to the table.
“I am lucky to have an advisor with similar interests as myself, meaning I have had the freedom to pursue research ideas that I find most interesting. I appreciate that everyone in the Rader Lab is pursuing different topics and has different academic backgrounds, so when we are all collaborating on something we each bring our own unique specialities to the table.”
Abby’s research is expected to be complete in June 2023. You can find out more about the pollination work being conducted at the Rader Community Ecology Lab here.
