This year we would like to investigate alternative ideas for a Lagoon container. We need to compare these with plastic milk bottles ideally (because we know these work well), and we’re asking for your ideas and feedback on what works in your garden. See more information including some ideas see HERE.
Rhingia rostrata has turned up in a Hoverfly Lagoon!
What a Lagoon-dwelling hoverfly larva looks like:
See here for other beasties that share the Lagoon environment, and could be mistaken for hoverfly larvae.
I’ve started a new blog to document our Lagoons journey this year, and to help our Hoverfly Lagoons Project volunteers and anyone else interested in these lesser-known beasties and their community. Get gardening for wildlife!
“Hoverfly Lagoons are artificial tree rot-holes or bodies of water that some hoverflies use as a breeding site. They are cheap and simple, essentially a container with decaying organic matter and water, and they originated as an idea for enthusing and involving citizens (hence the endearing name) to collect scientific data to monitor our important and declining pollinators. Moreover, they increase habitat and diversity in gardens, and awareness and appreciation of hoverflies and other lesser-known insects.
The Hoverfly Lagoons project was invented, and is run by myself at The Buzz Club, a charitable organisation which is part of the University of Sussex. I have created this website as a way of making information and data available to those interested, and for me to have an outlet for my ongoing and constantly developing Lagoon tales.”
Ellen L. Rotheray
Senior Lecturer, University of Sussex
ResearchGate: Ellen L. Rotheray
Twitter @ellenrotheray
BUZZ CLUB Hoverly Lagoons project correspondence:
Twitter @hoverflylagoons
Email: [email protected]
