Metabarcoding of Pollen Carried by Syrphids Reveals Novel Plant–Pollinator Interactions in a Protected Natural Area and Agricultural Sites

ABSTRACT In recent years, there has been growing concern over the global decline of pollinators, which poses a significant threat to biodiversity, food security, and ecosystem health. While the role of bees has been widely studied, the contribution of other pollinator taxa remains poorly understood. This preliminary study assessed plant‐pollinator interactions through metabarcoding analysis of pollen collected from syrphids sampled in the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park (Veneto, Italy) and in agricultural areas of Emilia‐Romagna (Italy), where flowering strips with specific seed mixtures were sown to enhance natural enemy and pollinator resources. Detailed protocols for specimen collection, DNA extraction, amplification, purification, and body surface pollen load evaluation were included in the paper. Pollen loads were evaluated on 200 specimens, while metabarcoding analyses were conducted on 36 specimens. Metabarcoding revealed pollen from 18 plant families and 33 genera, with Asteraceae exhibiting the highest number of plant genera visited. Syrphids were confirmed to contribute to the pollination of anemophilous plants, and several previously undocumented interactions were identified, including that between Microdon mutabilis/myrmicae and the genus Orchis . Female syrphids carried significantly higher pollen loads than males, and pollen load was positively correlated with mean body size in females. These findings highlight the ecological importance of syrphids as pollinators and provide new insights into plant‐pollinator networks.