Pollen beetles (genus Meligethes) spend the winter as adults in soil,
emerging in spring to feed on pollen, mate, and lay eggs in flower buds.
Oil-seed rape is an ideal spring food source for both adults and larvae, and with
an adult female capable of laying 100-200 eggs they can cause substantial damage
to the crop. After munching pollen for a month, larvae migrate to the soil and
pupate for 2-3 weeks before emerging as adults in mid to late summer – i.e.
NOW! In Edinburgh, we are seeing many of these young adult beetles in our urban
meadows where they are feasting on pollen from a range of flowers in preparation
for winter underground.
and on marigold (Calendula officinalis) |
and on Californian poppy (Eschscholzia californica) |
and on baby's breath (Gypsophila elegans) |
and on alyssum (Lobularia maritima) |
and on ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) |
and on Virginia stock (Malcolmia maritima) |
and on poppy (Papaver rhoeas) |
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