Wildlife Welfare

Wild UK Hoverfly Welfare and Conservation

Hoverflies are important pollinators and indicators of habitat quality facing population pressures from habitat loss and pesticide exposure.

Key Facts

UK has over 280 hoverfly species with diverse larval habitat requirements
Some species require specific habitats including ancient woodland or wet habitats
Hoverfly larvae occupy ecological niches from aphid predators to rotting wood decomposers
Pesticide exposure affects hoverfly populations both directly and through prey reduction
Hoverfly monitoring programmes provide valuable ecological health indicator data

Welfare Considerations

Hoverfly welfare at population level is linked to habitat diversity and pesticide burden. Creating diverse garden habitats with flowering plants and avoiding pesticides provides welfare benefits for hoverfly populations with cascading benefits for ecosystem function.

What You Can Do

Plant diverse flowering plants providing food sources throughout the adult hoverfly season
Avoid pesticide use that reduces prey availability and directly affects hoverfly populations
Record hoverfly species through iRecord and the Hoverfly Recording Scheme to support monitoring