Dr Raylea Rowbottom1

1seedPurity, Margate, Australia

Biography:

Dr Raylea Rowbottom studied entomology at the University of Tasmania and has worked with insects in vector borne disease ecology, biological control, and pollination research. She is the research lead for the Managing Flies for Pollination project at seedPurity, a nationally collaborative research project supported by Hort Innovations Pollination Fund with co-investment from industry partners. Her role in this project is to investigate the efficiency of fly pollination and deployment protocols in a range of crops and environmental conditions and to engage with industry on the outcomes of this research.

Abstract:

There is more than 65% of agricultural production in Australia which require managed honeybees for pollination. With the expansion of pollination dependent crops, and growth of commercial agriculture, the demand for honeybees is forecast to increase. This reliance on a sole managed pollinator presents many risks particularly with the threat of Varroa mite (Varroa destructor), the South African Small Hive Beetle (Aethina tumida) and Colony Collapse Disorder, all of which can have catastrophic impacts to bee colonies and the supply of managed hives. Flies are one of the most diverse animal groups in the world present in almost all habitats. Flies are also abundant pollinators known to visit flowers in many crops from onions, carrot and celery to berries and stone fruits. However, our understanding of their contribution to pollination has been limited. “Managing Flies for Pollination” is a 5-year nationally collaborative project established to understand the potential benefit of flies as crop pollinators. The project aims were to identify potential fly pollinator candidates, assess their pollination efficiency, initiate rearing capabilities and demonstrate their capacity as pollinators at a commercial scale. We have identified a Syrphid fly, Eristalis tenax, and tested its capabilities on range of crops and agronomic systems demonstrating pollination efficiency comparable to bees. We are currently assessing the economic viability of E. tenax as there is increasing evidence that this fly has the potential to be the next commercially available managed pollinator.