Fenologia y seleccion de habitat de las especies de sirfidos afidofagos (Dipt.: Syrphidae) mas frecuentes en cultivos cerealeros y forrajeros en la provincia de buenos aires, argentina

Abstract

Phenology and habitat selection of the aphidophagous syrphid species most frequently found in crops and pastures in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The paucity in ecological studies on aphidophagous syrphid flies (Diptera, Syrphidae) of the neotropical region is particularly pronounced in Argentina. In order to increase the database on these natural enemies, the phenology and habitat selection of six syrphid flies (Dipt., Syrphidae):Syrphus phaeostigma (L.);Allograpta obliqua (Wied.);Allograpta exotica (Wied.);Pseudodorus clavatus (L.);Platycheirus carposcalis (L.) andOcyptamus argentinensis (Thorn.) were studied in the Province of Buenos Aires (Argentina). The moment of the year in which adults, eggs, larvae and pupae of these species are found was recorded. The phenologies found for the species in our area are similar to those found for other species of the same genera in other parts of the world. These aphidophagous syrphids are not evenly distributed in all the systems sampled, evidencing a preference for either one of the following types of habitat: cereal crop, lucerne, soya, bushes or prairies. These results are potentially useful in terms of crop and pest management practices.