Strawberry is a crop that, although not typically classified as seed-producing, requires cross-pollination to develop well-formed, high-quality fruits. For the creation of these hybrids, the participation of pollinators such as Queenfly® and Goldfly® is essential, especially in protected environments like greenhouses, tunnels, or netting systems, where conditions limit the activity of traditional pollinators. Polyfly’s syrphid flies, such as Queenfly®, have proven to be highly effective pollinators in strawberry propagation, as demonstrated in our case studies.
Among the most notable benefits of using hoverflies in strawberry crops are:
- Improved fruit set and increased yield: In trials with the ‘Gariguette’ variety, up to +73% more premium yield, +15% in total production, and +38% increase in economic return per square meter were observed when syrphids were used alongside bumblebees, compared to using bumblebees alone.
- Higher fruit quality: Syrphids contribute to greater fruit uniformity, reduce the occurrence of deformities, and increase the percentage of commercially and premium-grade strawberries.
- Efficiency under challenging conditions: They are active at lower temperatures and under lower light conditions than bumblebees, making them ideal for early spring, autumn, or artificial light environments. Additionally, they handle the flowers more delicately.
- Ideal for protected environments: They have shown excellent adaptation to greenhouses, tunnels, and cages, achieving homogeneous distribution and good establishment.
