An integrated hoverfly system for pest management and pollination in protected soft-fruit

Abstract: With the decreasing access to plant protection products, hoverflies (Diptera:
Syrphidae) offer exciting benefits. The adults are safe, effective pollinators of many protected
soft-fruit crops, complementing bumblebees and honeybees as pollinators. The larvae of many European native species are also important predators of commercially-significant aphids. Laboratory bioassays confirm that several species are effective aphid predators, with semi-field trials demonstrating benefits of hoverfly releases into aphid-infested strawberry plants with reduction in some aphid colony sizes and improvements in fruit quality. Integrated field trials using AI-powered monitoring devices to measure the combined impact of hoverflies and attractant lures for pollination and pest management show significant crop quality benefits for protected strawberry and raspberry.