Flies

Flies form one of the most overlooked groups of pollinators but in fact they play a crucial role.

They can easily be identified by the number of wings they have. Unlike bees and wasps, which have two pairs of wings, flies have only one pair (2 wings in total). Other features that set flies apart are their large, often bulging or rounded eyes and their short, stubby antennae.

Hover flies (Syrphidae spp.) are an important pollinator group, visiting a diverse range of flowers. Hover flies are also great at pest control as their young feed on other problematic insects (such as aphids).