Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and the Royal Horticultural Society are calling on gardeners to help save hoverflies. This fly family is the second most significant pollinator after bees, with some species of hoverfly known to visit more flowers than bees. 

These insects are unsung heroes of many of our ecosystems. Hoverflies visit 52% of crops globally  which they either pollinate or protect by eating sap-sucking aphids. Additionally, they pollinate wildflowers, are food for birds and even help break down organic matter in gardens.

Yet, intensive agriculture, harmful pesticides, urban development and climate change have all taken their toll. Hoverfly distribution has seen a 44% decline between 1980 to 2020  and in 2022 the International Union for the Conservation of Nature added hoverflies to its Red List of threatened species. 

Hoverflies are masters of disguise. These stingless insects are often mistaken for wasps, bees or even hornets and the different types go by various common names such as Batman, Footballer and Marmalade, thanks to their distinctive markings and colours.

True flies have only one pair of flight wings (whereas bees and wasps have two) and they make up over 280 of the 6000 fly species in the UK. It can be easier to identify them by their behaviour than their looks, because they hover or even zigzag around plants.

Kate Sheard, Wilder Communities Officer at Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, says:

“Hoverflies are vital components of healthy gardens and often overlooked pollinators.

“Although adult hoverflies can be found year-round, their time in adulthood is short – most surviving from just a few days to a couple of months. A majority of hoverflies will spend more time as larvae than as adults so it’s important for gardeners to think about providing conditions for them in both forms. Larvae generally like damp conditions, for example a compost heap, pond, or hoverfly lagoon – a grand name for a mix of water and fallen leaves in an open bowl, whilst adults require plenty of flowers to feed upon.”

Helen Bostock, Senior Wildlife Specialist at the Royal Horticultural Society, says:

“We’d like people to open their garden gates to hoverflies this summer. These incredible insects help pollinate our plants, keep aphids in balance and break down rotting matter in the garden. Gardeners can help attract them by planting open, easily accessible flowers.  In spring, they’ll be drawn to aubretia. In summer, they’ll love blackberry flowers, Oxeye Daisy, marigolds, fennel, Cow Parsley and poppies. Come autumn, they can be seen on heather, aster and even Common Ivy.”

Experts from the two charities have designed a series of projects for gardeners to help hoverflies in spaces large or small. These include:

• Pollinator plant boxes: Ideal for small-space gardens or balconies, these can be jam-packed with flowering plants to suit the season, representing a giant buffet for visiting hoverflies.
• Hoverfly lagoons: These are pools of shallow water where fallen leaves create a perfect breeding ground for many of the hoverfly species which have aquatic larvae.
• Larvae nurseries: Log piles and even shrubs can make perfect homes for hoverfly larvae.

For a FREE ‘Be a hoverfly hero!’ guide to identify which hoverflies are visiting your garden and to find out more about how you can help them thrive, please visit www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk