Doubly Organic. Migrant Hoverfly, Eupeodes corollae, on Oxalis articulata, Pink Sorrel, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
One might wax eloquent on the migratory powers of our Hoverfly! It has been found flying over the Ocean more than 200 km from the coast. But even more interesting is a discovery made in 2015 in Spain by Antonio Robledo, head of research&development of Biobest Sistemas Biológicos. Researching pest control on paprika in greenhouses, he found that Eupeodes corollae is an excellent natural assistant to farmers. Its larvae feed on the aphids that terrorise those pepper plants. And besides the adult Hoverfly is an excellent pollinator for the flowers that will yield the peppery fruits. A dual purpose insect and eco-friendly, too. In 2019 Robledo's discovery began to be implemented on an industrial scale.
In the photo Eupeodes is not 'working' - perhaps on migratory holiday from Spain - but indulging on Oxalis articulata, Pink Sorrel, in the Amsterdam Hortus.
Doubly Organic. Migrant Hoverfly, Eupeodes corollae, on Oxalis articulata, Pink Sorrel, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
One might wax eloquent on the migratory powers of our Hoverfly! It has been found flying over the Ocean more than 200 km from the coast. But even more interesting is a discovery made in 2015 in Spain by Antonio Robledo, head of research&development of Biobest Sistemas Biológicos. Researching pest control on paprika in greenhouses, he found that Eupeodes corollae is an excellent natural assistant to farmers. Its larvae feed on the aphids that terrorise those pepper plants. And besides the adult Hoverfly is an excellent pollinator for the flowers that will yield the peppery fruits. A dual purpose insect and eco-friendly, too. In 2019 Robledo's discovery began to be implemented on an industrial scale.
In the photo Eupeodes is not 'working' - perhaps on migratory holiday from Spain - but indulging on Oxalis articulata, Pink Sorrel, in the Amsterdam Hortus.