This book explores the critical role of dipterans (flies) in global food production, plant reproduction, and ecological services. It highlights the diversity of pollinating dipterans worldwide, with a focus on their importance in India.

Chapters cover key pollinator groups such as syrphid flies (hoverflies), thick-headed flies, bees (honeybees, bumblebees, solitary bees), and butterflies, explaining their impact on plant health and reproduction. Special attention is given to non-syrphid dipterans, which are vital in high-altitude and subarctic regions where bee populations are limited.

The book also examines threats like climate change, habitat loss, land-use changes, and invasive species, along with recent research on insect immunity and antiviral defenses in honeybees.

It is a valuable resource for researchers, academicians, and anyone interested in pollinators and their conservation.

Discusses the role of diverse dipterans in global food production and ecological services Explores pollinator dipterans worldwide and their diversity and significance in India's delicate ecosystems Provides information about threats to pollinator populations and cutting-edge antiviral defense research in honeybees

Autorentext

Dr. Shyamasree Ghosh (MSc, PhD) is Scientific Officer (F) at the School of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. She is involved in teaching, research, and academic administration. She has previously worked as faculty at a postgraduate college affiliated with Bangalore University and held postdoctoral positions at Manipal Health Systems, Karnataka, and the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Kolkata. Dr. Ghosh completed her BSc from Presidency College, University of Calcutta, and earned her MSc in Biotechnology and PhD in Science from the University of Calcutta and CSIR-IICB, respectively. Her research spans zoology, glycobiology, immunology, stem cells, computational biology, and nanotechnology. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, books, chapters, and popular science articles. She serves as Associate Editor and editorial board member for reputed journals and is a reviewer for several international publications. A recipient of several academic awards, she has also contributed actively to science communication in multiple Indian languages.

Dr. Dhriti Banerjee (MSc, PhD) is Scientist G and Director of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata, West Bengal, India, under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. She is the first woman to head ZSI in its century-long history. She graduated from Presidency College, University of Calcutta, and earned her MSc in Zoology and PhD from the University of Calcutta and the University of Kalyani, respectively. With over two decades of experience at ZSI, her research interests include taxonomy, forensic dipterology, climate modeling, pollinator biology, and flyplant interactions. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and contributed to books and chapters. Dr. Banerjee has also led major digitization and databasing initiatives at ZSI and has guided several PhD students.

Inhalt

1. Insect Pollinators: Biodiversity.- 2. Major Dipteran Pollinators: Hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae).- 3. Biodiversity of Big Headed Flies (Diptera: Pipunculidae).- 4. Plant pollinator interaction.- 5. Climate Change and threat to pollinators.- 6. Insect Immunity: A focus on Honey Bees.