Avocado Pollinators (forum)

Markmelb starts with ...
Im trying to accrue some photos of the insects pollinating my Avocados - Bees dont touch them at all so any entomologist out there able to identify this fella in the photo - and its bigger than a fly :)
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Picture: 1

Time: 2nd October 2014 6:40pm

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Mike Tr says...
It is a checkered fly and you will need to consult a Diptera key to pin it down.Ants,native bees.moths and butterflies and beetles will probably be doing some pollination.

Time: 2nd October 2014 6:54pm

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About the Author Mike Tr
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Markmelb says...
Thanks Mike - your bang on with that id - didnt know of such a fly here in Melb - never seen ants or native bees or beetles here in Melb on my Avos - but will keep up this thread as i find whats around this neck of the woods - Cheers

Time: 2nd October 2014 8:28pm

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Markmelb says...
The bigger bluish fly is out and about this morning (27c Today in Melb)
Mike - can you iD this guy? Those keys I looked up are extensive.
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Picture: 1
Picture: 2

Time: 4th October 2014 9:53am

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Jason says...
Mine are pollinated exclusively by native (hover fly) bees (and a few black and shiny flys). The native hover bees, there's hundreds if not thousands of them in each tree.

Time: 6th October 2014 4:08am

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Markmelb says...
My Hover type flys arnt out yet as not warm enough for them maybe - give it a couple more weeks should see them and get some pics of those to compare with yours or to see if theyre native bees?

Time: 6th October 2014 8:29am

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Paul W says...
Bees are definitely working mine (as well as hover flies) but I have 3 bee hives on site which obviously helps. Avocado flowers are not preferred by bees generally though.

Time: 12th October 2014 9:50pm

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