Pollen beetle

The pollen beetle (Meligethes sp.) belongs to the order Coleoptera and the family Nitidulidae. It is a well-known pest that poses a significant threat to various agricultural and horticultural crops, primarily by damaging the reproductive parts of plants before they bloom.

This pest has a diverse host range, including economically important crops such as oilseed rape, soybean, fodder beet, common cucumber, and field pea. Additionally, it frequently infests fruit trees and bushes, including the common apple tree, the common peach, and the common raspberry, significantly affecting their fruit set.

The biology of the pollen beetle typically involves one generation per year. Adults emerge from hibernation in early spring as temperatures rise. They feed on the pollen and developing buds of host plants. Females deposit eggs inside the buds, where larvae consume the internal tissues, ultimately causing the buds to wither and drop off before pollination occurs.

The economic impact of the pollen beetle is primarily due to bud destruction. By feeding on the developing flower parts, the beetle prevents seed formation, which leads to substantial yield losses. In severe cases, the entire inflorescence may be destroyed, resulting in significant financial losses for the grower.

Effective control measures involve integrated pest management practices. Growers should focus on crop monitoring using yellow sticky traps to detect early infestations. If pest populations exceed the threshold levels, chemical control using targeted insecticides is required. Timing is critical, with treatments best applied before the flowers open to minimize risks to pollinators.

• Regular monitoring with yellow water traps.
• Timely application of insecticides during the bud stage.
• Cultural control by maintaining crop vigor and proper density.
• Removal of cruciferous weeds that serve as alternative hosts.