Anthophilous insects in fruit orchards on Mount Etna (Italy)

The results of a survey on the anthophilous entomophauna of Pomaceae and Drupaceae carried out in 2000-2003 in orchards with a different degree of anthropization located on Mount Etna (Italy) are presented. Observations were conducted on local varieties of pear and almond, at an elevation of 1,100 m, and on loquat, cv “Oblunga chiara” and “Nespolone di Trabia”, at 100 m above mean sea level, during the whole bloom along predefined sections, 200 m long, at three-hour intervals throughout the day. The insects found were mainly Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. The data collected were analyzed using diversity indexes. The results obtained pointed out that on pear blossoms the composition of the anthophilous entomophauna is almost constant as far as Beetles and Flies are concerned. On almond trees, the number of anthophilous species increased during the fourth year while in the three previous ones mainly Hymenoptera Apoidea (Bombus spp., Apis mellifera L. and few other species) were present. The two varieties of loquat showed similar attractiveness towards anthophilous insects, mainly represented by A. mellifera and several species of Syrphidae and Muscidae.