Worcestershire Wildlife Trust calling on people to help save red listed insect
Figures suggest the hoverfly saw a 44% decline between 1980 to 2020
The Worcestershire Wildlife Trust is calling on people across the county to help save hoverflies.
Figures suggest the insect saw a 44% decline between 1980 to 2020.
In 2022 the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) also added hoverflies to its red list of threatened species.
Steve Bloomfield is a senior conservation officer at the wildlife trust, he says the insect plays a vital role in the environment.
"From spring onwards, it's all about helping the insects in the garden," he said.
"We know that hoverflies in particular pollinate around about 52% of our agricultural crops, so they're really important for us.
"It's about managing the garden that's rich in flowers to provide pollen and nectar for these species, but also leaving those untidy bits, those little puddles of water, those log piles and things so that there's plenty of space for these little creatures to hide out."
Worcestershire’s gardeners are being encouraged to create spaces for the insects in their patches.