El Jardín Botánico de Castilla-La Mancha (Albacete, España), refugio de un grupo bioindicador: los sírfidos (Diptera, Syrphidae)

Botanical Gardens lead vegetal conservation and some of them, such as the Botanical Garden of Castilla-La Mancha (Albacete), have a policy of sustainable management, which is respectful with the beneficial entomofauna including the syrphids or flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae). Syrphidae adults are pollinators and their saprophagous, phytophagous or predatory larvae, according to species, play an important role in the ecosystem functioning. This is one of the reasons why syrphids are used as bioindicators of ecosystem quality. In this paper, the syrphid species caught in the Botanical Garden of Castilla-La Mancha and surrounding areas in April/May 2018 were studied. The main aim is to estimate the importance of this botanical garden as a refuge for this bioindicator group. Eighteen syrphid species were collected, 12 of which were new to Albacete province. The relationship between syrphid species and the plants they visit is indicated, and differences in the number of syrphid species found in different areas of the garden are discussed, with the ‘Regional Landscapes’ and the ‘Manchego Wetlands’ being the areas where the highest numbers of syrphid species were recorded. Most of the syrphid species collected in flowers were caught in native plants.