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Learning to be unfaithful - preferences and flower constancy of Eristalis tenax (Syrphidae) decrease with experience.
Jakub Štenc1,2,3, Alice Haveldová1, Eva Matoušková1,2
1Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, CZ-128 41 Prague, Czech Republic.
The Journal of Experimental Biology
|April 13, 2026
Summary
Drone flies (Eristalis tenax L.) adjust their flower preferences and constancy based on foraging experience. This learning behavior impacts their foraging decisions and pollen transfer in diverse environments.
Area of Science:
- Pollination ecology
- Animal behavior
- Entomology
Background:
- Pollinators show preferences for floral traits and exhibit flower constancy, influencing foraging and pollen transfer.
- Learned foraging behavior is well-documented in bees, but less so in hoverflies (Syrphidae), a key pollinator group.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how foraging experience affects the preferences and flower constancy of drone flies (Eristalis tenax).
- To compare flower constancy and preferences between naive and experienced drone flies.
Main Methods:
- Controlled experiments using artificial flowers with varying colors and sizes.
- Comparison of foraging behavior between flower-naive and flower-experienced drone flies (Eristalis tenax).
Main Results:
- Previous experience with flowers in a species-rich environment reduced flower constancy in Eristalis tenax.
- Foraging experience altered the floral preferences of Eristalis tenax.
Conclusions:
- Foraging experience significantly modifies drone fly behavior, impacting their flower choices and constancy.
- Understanding learned foraging in hoverflies is crucial for assessing their role in pollination dynamics.
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