C. vicina foraging behaviour_Rogers et al.

Flies foraging for floral resources provide ecosystem services through the pollination of myriad angiosperms, including many crop species. Despite this, relatively little information exists on the floral cues used by fly-pollinators to locate and discriminate between floral rewards, and the preferences they may have for specific cues. The foraging decisions of the globally distributed fly pollinator, Calliphora vicina (Diptera: Calliphoridae), were investigated in response to colour and odour cues used in guiding flower visitation for nectar rewards. Preferences for different floral cues were influenced by factors such as sex and physiological state. Naive C. vicina demonstrated an innate preference for yellow. Colour preference was modified where bimodal cues were present, with odour eliciting an increased response to treatments. Understanding of cue use and attraction may assist in enhancing pollination services in agriculture.