The present investigation was carried out on in vitro mass multiplication, larval feeding capacity, and pollination efficiency of two aphidophagous syrphidsviz.,Eupeodes frequens(Matsmura) andEpisyrphus balteatus(De Geer) (Diptera: Syrphidae) on cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicaeL.) (Homoptera: Aphididae) on mustard crop under mid hill conditions. The results revealed that the incubation, larval, and pupal periods were 3.5, 12.4, and 11.9 days, respectively forE. frequensand 3.8, 13.7, and 8.8 days, forE. balteatus. Longevity of male and female was 15.2 and 17.6 days forE. frequensand 10.6 and 12.6 days forE. balteatus, respectively. When the adults were fed on different diets, adult longevity and fecundity recorded significantly maximum on 10% honey solution + fresh pollen grains.E. frequensconsumed an average of 261.7 individuals of cabbage aphids per larva during total larval period, whereas the larva ofE. balteatusconsumed 393.6 cabbage aphids. The pollination efficiency of hoverflies on Indian mustard (Brassica junceaL.) was studied under caged conditions. It was observed that the plants pollinated byE. balteatusandE. frequensshowed 55.12 and 52.97% seed set. Among the different diets, fresh pollen grains + 10% honey solutions recorded to be the best diet for mass rearing of syrphids.
