Creating a hoverfly haven is a fantastic way to support local pollinators and enhance your garden’s biodiversity. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you set up a hoverfly haven or lagoon.
What You’ll Need
- CONTAINER – A shallow dish, plant saucer, or a shallow bucket (depth should be no more than 5-10cm).
- WATER – Rainwater is preferable over tap water, but tap water can be used if left to sit for 24 hours to let chlorine dissipate.
- ORGANIC MATERIAL – A small amount of leaf litter, decomposing plant material, and/or compost.
- PLANTS – Floating plants or small aquatic plants to provide habitat and additional food sources.
- SHELTER – Rocks, sticks, or pieces of wood to give hoverflies places to rest and hide.
How to Create it
- CHOOSE THE RIGHT LOCATION
- Place your container in a spot that gets partial sunlight. Too much direct sunlight can cause the water to heat up and evaporate quickly.
- Ensure the location is safe from strong winds and predators.
- PREPARE THE CONTAINER
- Clean the container thoroughly to remove any chemicals or residues.
- Place a layer of leaf litter, decomposing plant material, and/or compost at the bottom of the container.
- ADD WATER
- Fill the container with rainwater. If using tap water, let it sit for at least 24 hours to allow chlorine to dissipate.
- Ensure the water level is shallow (5-10cm deep) to mimic natural conditions that hoverflies prefer.
- ADD PLANTS & SHELTER
- Add a few floating plants or small aquatic plants to provide habitat and help oxygenate the water.
- Place rocks, sticks, or pieces of wood around the container to provide shelter and resting spots for hoverflies.
- MAINTAIN THE LAGOON
- Check the water level regularly and top it up with rainwater as needed.
- Remove any debris that accumulates in the water to prevent it from becoming stagnant.
- Refresh the organic material periodically to ensure a steady supply of nutrients for larvae.
- MONITOR & ENJOY
- Observe the haven for hoverfly activity. You may see them hovering around the water or resting on plants and rocks.
- Be patient, it may take some time for overflies to find and start using the haven.
Additional tips
Avoid chemicals – Do not use pesticides or chemicals near the haven, as these can burn hoverflies and other beneficial insects.
Diverse planting – Plant a variety of nectar-rich flowers nearby to attract adult hoverflies to your garden.
Education – Educate others about the importance of hoverflies and how they can support local ecosystems by creating their own hoverfly haven!
By creating a hoverfly lagoon, you are contributing to the conservation of these important pollinators and enhancing the ecological health of your garden.