%0 Journal Article
%T A Study on the Diversity of Flower-Visiting Hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) in Maquis Shrublands Near Ajaccio, South-Western Corsica, France
%A Chinedu Okafor
%A Samuel Okeke
%A Ifunanya Obi
%J Entomological Research Letters
%@ 3108-639X
%D 2025
%V 5
%N 2
%R 10.51847/TXJS6Bw9dl
%P 66-77
%X Hoverflies (Syrphidae, Diptera), comprising approximately 6,000 species across 200 genera globally, represent a highly diverse and ecologically significant group of pollinators, second only to wild bees (Hymenoptera). This study examined the diversity of flower-visiting Syrphidae within low shrubland maquis habitats across three compensatory sites in the Ajaccio area (Corsica, France). In total, 138 hoverfly individuals were collected, encompassing 27 species from 16 genera. Among the subfamilies, Syrphinae exhibited the greatest diversity compared to Milesinae and Eristalinae. Seven species—Eumerus barbarus, Sphaerophoria scripta, Chrysotoxum intermedium, Episyrphus balteatus, Syritta pipiens, Melanostoma mellinum, and Melanostoma scalare—dominated the syrphid assemblages, accounting for 67% of all records. Most of the findings reported here represent novel data for the Ajaccio region. The Loretto site stood out for both higher species richness and greater hoverfly abundance compared to the other two locations. Regarding daily activity patterns, flower visits by hoverflies predominantly occurred in the morning across all sites, with Asteraceae flowers being the most frequently visited. Seasonal patterns were also evident, as the majority of flower visits took place in autumn (September to November), a period when other floral visitors were scarce or absent.
%U https://esvpub.com/article/a-study-on-the-diversity-of-flower-visiting-hoverflies-diptera-syrphidae-in-maquis-shrublands-nea-thpja3r1aqpanqa