Data from: Significant genetic mixing and great genetic diversity at continental scale in two pollinator/aphid predator species: Episyrphus balteatus and Sphaerophoria scripta (Diptera: syrphidea)|昆虫生态学数据集|遗传多样性数据集

Population structure of pests and beneficial species is an important issue when designing management strategies to optimize ecosystem services. In this study, we investigated for the first time the population structure at a continental scale of two migratory species of hoverflies providing both pest regulation and pollination services (Episyrphus balteatus and Sphaerophoria scripta (Diptera: Syrphidae)). To achieve this objective, we used two sets of 12 species specific microsatellite markers on a large scale sampling from all over Europe. Our findings showed a high level of genetic mixing resulting in a lack of genetic differentiation at a continental scale, and a great genetic diversity in the two species. All the pair wise Fst values between European localities were less 0.05 in the two species. These low values reflect a large scale genetic mixing probably caused by the existence of frequent migratory movements in the two species. Mantel tests revealed isolation by distance pattern on the East-West axis, but not on the North-South axis. This isolation by distance pattern confirms the existence of North-South migratory movements in both directions and suggests an important step by step dispersal. Population features shown by this study are common in invasive species and pests but are not often observed in beneficial species. They reflect great colonization abilities and a high adaptive potential when dealing with a changing environment. Our results highlight the two studied species as particularly interesting beneficial insects for pollination and pest predation in the current context of global change.