Fennel, Foeniculum vulgare as Banker Crop for Syrphids to Promote Aphidophagy and Myophily

A study was conducted to document the pollination index of syrphid flies and to record the natural incidence of syrphid larvae on fennel aphid, Hyadaphis coriandri. Five different species of syrphid flies, viz. Episyrphus balteatus, Ischiodon scutellaris, Paragus serratus, Dideopsis aegrota and Betasyrphus linga were recorded in the flowers of fennel. E. balteatus ranked first in the order of pollination index. The natural incidence of larvae of D. aegrota was significantly higher in the umbels infested with H. coriandri. The results of the study confirmed the possible utility of fennel as a banker crop for the natural proliferation of syrphid predators.