the effects of collection methods on species diversity of family syrphidae (diptera) in neyshabur, iran

a faunistic list of syrphidae sampled in the agroecosystems of neyshabur (khorasan-razavi province) through malaise, yellow water traps and hand net is hereby presented for the first time. a total of 22 species were collected, including 13 species through malaise trap, 5 through yellow water trap as well as representatives of all species sampled through hand net. among the species collected, 8 including phytophagous ones were exclusively sampled through hand net. in the case of malaise trap the hover fly population was strongly dominated (73%) by 3 common species of: sphaerophoria scripta, episyrphus balteatus, and eupeodes corollae while, in the yellow water trap, episyrphus balteatus was the key species representing about 45% of all specimens. shannon-weiner index of biodiversity found out for malaise trap (h= 1.86) was higher than that calculated for yellow water trap (h= 1.39). the relative efficiency of the three collection methods is discussed.