Hoverflies and Pollution
Introduction
Hoverflies (Syrphidae) are one of the most important pollinators. They love to mimick bees and wasps and even pretend to sting when they are provoked. Hoverflies are essential to our ecosystem, Hoverflies are known to visit around 72% of global food crops and and about 70% of animal pollinated wildflowers (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.) Unfortunately, Hoverflies are being heavily negatively impacted by pollution. Pollinators are attracted to the smell of flowers, and unfortunately, pollution is causing confusion among hoverflies and other pollinators as pollution is changing the smell of flowers.