Contributions of dipterans to pollination services and biological control

Diptera form one of the most diverse and functionally important insect groups, yet their ecological contributions to biodiversity maintenance and ecosystem services remain underrecognized and underrepresented in research and conservation planning. This review was undertaken to synthesize current evidence on the functional ecology of Diptera, highlight their roles in pollination services and biological control, and identify knowledge gaps that limit their integration into biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management. A systematic search of peer-reviewed articles was conducted by analysing 83 studies from 114 screened sources. The review reveals that Diptera contribute substantially to pollination and biological control. They visit approximately 72% of the world’s major crops and dominate pollination networks in alpine, arctic, and shaded habitats where bees are scarce. Several families of Diptera, including Syrphidae, Bombyliidae, Calliphoridae, and Muscidae provide pollination services valued in the hundreds of billions of dollars annually. Predatory and parasitoid species in Syrphidae, Tachinidae, and Cecidomyiidae deliver natural pest suppression estimated at nearly US$100 billion annually. Overall, this review demonstrate that Diptera play indispensable roles in sustaining ecosystem processes, agricultural productivity, and ecological resilience. However, major gaps persist in quantifying their contributions to pollination and pest regulation, particularly in tropical and developing regions. The review concludes that advancing dipteran research through targeted ecological studies, long-term monitoring, and integrative conservation strategies is essential for safeguarding ecosystem functioning and human well-being.