Posted by gordonfitch on 19-06-2015 15:44
#1
Hello,
I am looking for a source of pupae of
Episyrphus balteatus or a similar aphidophagous species found in the NE/North-central US. I am conducting research in Michigan, USA, on the interaction between pest control and pollination in diversified farming systems. I plan to use the flies in enclosure experiments in the field; they would not be released. I see that
E. balteatus is commercially available in Europe, but haven't found a source in the US. If you know of any, I would greatly appreciate the help. Alternatively, if there aren't any commercially available aphidophagous species, any tips on captive rearing would also be appreciated.
Thank you,
Gordon
_________
Gordon Fitch
PhD Student
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of Michigan
gmfitch@umich.edu