Pollinating Flies (Diptera): A major contribution to plant diversity and agricultural production

Diptera are one of the three largest and most diverse animal groups in the world. As an often neglected but important group of pollinators, they play a significant role in agrobiodiversity and the biodiversity of plants everywhere. Flies are present in almost all habitats and biomes and for many medicinal, food and ornamental plants, pollinating flies guarantee or enhance seed and fruit production. They are important in the natural landscape, in agriculture and in greenhouses, and have recently come into use in the production of seeds for seed banks. The Sao Paulo Pollinator Initiative, the CBD, and Pollinator secretariats were important starting points in the international recognition of pollinator importance. However, large gaps in our knowledge of the role of Diptera in pollination networks need to be addressed in order to sustain agriculture and to enable appropriate responses to climate change. At this 9 Conference of the Parties we would like to draw attention to the role of often-neglected Dipteran pollinators, to stress their current importance and potential future, use as pollinators in agriculture. A case study on flower flies that act as important pollinators, as adults, and major biocontrol agents, as larvae, illustrates their double importance for agriculture.