Prey availability and abiotic requirements of immature stages of the aphid predator Sphaerophoria rueppellii

► Sphaerophoria rueppellii: an indigenous predatory hoverfly in the Mediterranean basin. ► Low relative humidity strongly impacts survival of larvae and eggs, but not of pupae. ► Development is completed at a wide range of temperatures, even at 30 °C. ► Survival of immature stages is not affected by aphid supply. ► S. rueppellii is a good candidate for classical biological control in warm climate.