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Helping bees, hoverflies and solitary bees and wasps
These are a few members belonging to two very large groups of insects.
One group, the true flies or to give them their scientific name, Diptera, includes many of our less-liked insects, such as midges and flies.
The group also includes the cranefly or daddy long-legs, the larvae and adults of which are an important food for many adult and young birds. This group includes the hoverfly and bee fly. These often cause concern as they mimic wasps and bees. They are actually perfectly harmless insects, which in the case of the hoverfly, are beneficial for pollinating plants while also feeding on other insects such as aphids. The bee flies parasitise caterpillars and solitary bees and wasps.
The other group are the ants, bees and wasps, or hymenoptera. This includes the sawflies, which are also an important source of food for adult and young birds.
The other members include ants, bumblebees and the solitary bee. Both these types of bee are beneficial for pollinating plants in the garden.
Solitary wasps, unlike their familair social cousins, parasitise the adult and larvae of many insects including some less welcome pest species. Like the bee fly, they lay their eggs in their host victims and the grubs when hatched live on the stored food until they pupate.
What do bees, solitary bees and wasps and hoverflies need?
This group of insects are important pollinators and require a diverse range of flowering plants throughout the season, to cater for each species flight period.
They require a diverse structure of plants to provide them with somewhere to shelter and feed, hunt for prey and seek a mate. A south-facing border is particularly beneficial as it also provides somewhere warm as well as improved fruiting and flowering of plants on which the insects seek nectar and food.
Bare earth is important and provides somewhere for the insects to bask and hunt for prey. They also look for somewhere to nest on bare earth - usually a small hole in a warm sheltered bank, or beneath a hedge. Some species use holes in wood, or brickwork and mortar.
How can I help bees, hoverflies and solitary bees and wasps?
- Provide a range of flowering plants and shrubs in borders. Biennial and perennial plants are best. Remember to provide sources of nectar early and late in the year. Some shrubs are particularly good for this.
- Aim to provide a range of different shaped flowers. This maximises the feeding opportunities to more bees as each species have a different tongue length. Many of the legumes (clovers and pea-like plants) are particularly attractive, as to are honeysuckle and brambles. Single petalled flowering plants are best as they are richer in nectar and pollen. Many of the double-bloomed hybrids provide little in the way of nectar.
Hoverflies particularly like flat-headed flowers, such as daisies, including yarrow and members of the carrot family.
- Leave patches of bare earth in warm sheltered places. South-facing banks are particularly attractive and will provide nest sites for all types of these insects. They may also be attracted to use the tubes of bug boxes. If you have to undertake re-pointing to the walls of out buildings, consider leaving some holes where it is safe to do so.
- Dead wood on plants or laying on the floor will provide nesting places. The solitary mournful wasp, parasitizes aphids which it stores in plant stems, in old posts or logs, using the old tunnels or wood boring beetles.
Species to look out for in your garden
- Marmalade hoverfly
- Drone fly
- White-tailed bumblebee
- Red-tailed bumblebee
- Red mason bee
- Mournful wasp