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Published on: May 19, 2018

Enhanced flight performance in hoverfly migrants.

Richard Massy¹, Will Hawkes¹, Scarlett Weston¹

¹Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall, UK.

|December 6, 2024

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Migratory hoverflies fly farther than non-migratory ones, with body fat significantly boosting flight distance. These findings highlight the importance of energy stores for insect migration.

Area of Science:

Animal behavior
Insect physiology
Ecology

Background:

Seasonal migration is common in animals, involving long-distance travel.
The marmalade hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) is an important pollinator and pest predator known for migration.

Purpose of the Study:

To compare flight capabilities of migratory and non-migratory morphs of the marmalade hoverfly.
To investigate the influence of body condition on hoverfly flight performance.

Main Methods:

Tethered flight mill experiments were used to measure flight characteristics.
Autumn migratory and summer non-migratory morphs of Episyrphus balteatus were analyzed.
Body condition (fat stores) and size were assessed in relation to flight distance and speed.

Keywords:

ecology entomology evolutionary biology

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Main Results:

Migratory morphs flew twice the distance of non-migratory morphs.
Hoverflies with greater fat stores flew nearly five times farther than those with thin abdomens.
Flight speed was primarily influenced by body size, not migratory status or fat content.

Conclusions:

Migratory morphs of Episyrphus balteatus exhibit enhanced flight capabilities.
Body condition and energy reserves are crucial for successful long-distance insect migration.
Resource availability and feeding behavior likely play key roles in fueling hoverfly migration.