06/23/2026
It's !
When asked to describe insect species that can pollinate flowers,” writes Professor Christina Grozinger, Ph.D. in a Penn State Extension article, “most people think of bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds. However, flies are critical pollinators in both natural and agricultural systems.”* According to Christina, “[l]ike bees, adult flies visit flowers to feed on the nectar (as a source of carbohydrates) and pollen (as a source of protein and fats). However, while bees actively collect pollen to bring back to their nest to feed larvae, flies do not provide maternal care and passively transport pollen on their bodies as they visit different flowers.”*
For example, “[a] recent analysis of crop species found that flies visited 72% of the 105 crops studied (bees visited 93%). In some cases, flies can provide more consistent pollination in early spring than bees, likely because they are often active at cooler temperatures.”*
What kinds of flowers attract flies? As Christina writes, “[f]lies are attracted to a variety of flowering plants. As a rule of thumb, flies tend to prefer white flowers with open structures that are easy to access. Often these flowers have scents that are not necessarily floral but resemble decomposing material.”* So, “[t]o attract flies to your garden, plant a diversity of flowering plant species from these preferred species, selecting species that bloom throughout the year.”*
To learn more about attracting fly pollinators to your garden, check out the Penn State Extension article cited below!
Source:
* “Feeding the Flower Flies: How to Attract Flies to Your Garden,” Christina Grozinger, Ph.D. (Distinguished Professor of Entomology) Penn State Extension (updated June 7, 2024) (https://extension.psu.edu/feeding-the-flower-flies-how-to-attract-flies-to-your-garden).
