Pollen beetle is an informal term for any species of beetle associated intimately with suitably pollen-rich species of flowers. Typically such a beetle is adapted to the pollen as a major part of its diet. Species in at least sixteen families of the order Coleoptera could be counted as pollen beetles,[1][2] and "pollen beetle" also is a common name for some such species.
Many insects of small to modest size benefit from feeding on pollen of suitable plants; pollen tends to be rich in protein, plentiful in season and easily available. Many plants, such as some members of the Araceae and Zamiaceae, produce large amounts of nutritious pollen, while producing little or no nectar. The pollen of such plants attracts and nourishes specialist pollen feeders that perform pollination, and many of those pollen feeders are beetles. In accessing the pollen of such plants, many pollen-feeding insects form mutually beneficial ecological relationships. Others damage the flowers however, reducing seed set, and harming the crop rather than benefiting it.
The nutritious Pollen from plants adapted to such pollinators contrasts with the also copious pollen from specialist anemophilous plants. Strict anemophiles commonly produce pollen that is low in nutritive value, since it is not adapted to attract or feed pollinators. Furthermore, as an adaptation to being borne effectively by the wind, anemophilous pollen must be very light.
More specifically than speaking loosely of "pollen beetles" as a common name the expression is the common name for certain species of beetle in particular, mainly a few members of the families Melyridae, Nitidulidae and Oedemeridae. However, there are many others that, though not commonly called "pollen beetles", do feed avidly on pollen, including species in the following:[2]
Among the Melyridae the most prominent example of a species commonly referred to as a pollen beetle is Astylus atromaculatus. It feeds particularly on the large amounts of pollen produced by members of the grass family Poaceae, and related wind-pollinated families such as the Cyperaceae. It does however also visit many other flowers, such as members of the Asteraceae. It is not clear whether it causes more harm to crops by eating pollen and young tissues than it does good by promoting pollination.
Another species of "pollen beetle" in the family Melyridae is Dicranolaius bellulus. It is more of a predator than say, Astylus species, and is accordingly valued as an agent in pest management programs, but pollen is a major part of its diet.[3][4]
Several members of the Nitidulidae are similarly referred to as pollen beetles. In particular, practically all the species in the genus Meligethes are called pollen beetles. Of these the most notorious is probably the one now accepted as being properly called Meligethes aeneus/Brassicogethes aeneus. It is called the "Brassica pollen beetle", "Rape pollen beetle" and similar names, because it first became prominent as a pest of such crops in the first quarter of the 20th century.[5]
Many species in the family Oedemeridae are similarly called "pollen beetles". For example, the Southern Pollen Beetle in the United States is Oxycopis notoxoides).[6]
^McCall, Andrew C & Irwin, Rebecca E. Florivory: the intersection of pollination and Herbivory. Ecology Letters, (2006) 9: 1351–1365 doi: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2006.00975.x
^ ab"Pollen Use in Insects". ag.arizona.edu. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
^Chew, Peter. "Red and Blue Beetle, Pollen Beetle - Dicranolaius bellulus". www.brisbaneinsects.com. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
^"Red and Blue Pollen Beetle". www.padil.gov.au. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
^Kirton agricultural institute, Lincolnshire, England (1923). Annual Report ... "Guardian" printing works.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Ross H. Arnett Jr. (28 July 2000). American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico, Second Edition. CRC Press. pp. 18–. ISBN978-0-8493-0212-1.
April 17, 2024
pollen, beetle, informal, term, species, beetle, associated, intimately, with, suitably, pollen, rich, species, flowers, typically, such, beetle, adapted, pollen, major, part, diet, species, least, sixteen, families, order, coleoptera, could, counted, pollen, . Pollen beetle is an informal term for any species of beetle associated intimately with suitably pollen rich species of flowers Typically such a beetle is adapted to the pollen as a major part of its diet Species in at least sixteen families of the order Coleoptera could be counted as pollen beetles 1 2 and pollen beetle also is a common name for some such species Contents 1 Pollen feeding 2 Pollen beetles in the Melyridae 3 Pollen beetles in the Nitidulidae 4 Pollen beetles in the Oedemeridae 5 See also 6 ReferencesPollen feeding editMany insects of small to modest size benefit from feeding on pollen of suitable plants pollen tends to be rich in protein plentiful in season and easily available Many plants such as some members of the Araceae and Zamiaceae produce large amounts of nutritious pollen while producing little or no nectar The pollen of such plants attracts and nourishes specialist pollen feeders that perform pollination and many of those pollen feeders are beetles In accessing the pollen of such plants many pollen feeding insects form mutually beneficial ecological relationships Others damage the flowers however reducing seed set and harming the crop rather than benefiting it The nutritious Pollen from plants adapted to such pollinators contrasts with the also copious pollen from specialist anemophilous plants Strict anemophiles commonly produce pollen that is low in nutritive value since it is not adapted to attract or feed pollinators Furthermore as an adaptation to being borne effectively by the wind anemophilous pollen must be very light More specifically than speaking loosely of pollen beetles as a common name the expression is the common name for certain species of beetle in particular mainly a few members of the families Melyridae Nitidulidae and Oedemeridae However there are many others that though not commonly called pollen beetles do feed avidly on pollen including species in the following 2 Alleculidae Buprestidae Cantharidae Cerambycidae Cleridae Curculionidae Dermestidae Languriidae Meloidae Mordellidae Phalacridae Scarabaeidae tribe Hopliini in particular Stenotrachelidae Synonym Cephaloidae Pollen beetles in the Melyridae edit nbsp Astylus atromaculatusAmong the Melyridae the most prominent example of a species commonly referred to as a pollen beetle is Astylus atromaculatus It feeds particularly on the large amounts of pollen produced by members of the grass family Poaceae and related wind pollinated families such as the Cyperaceae It does however also visit many other flowers such as members of the Asteraceae It is not clear whether it causes more harm to crops by eating pollen and young tissues than it does good by promoting pollination Another species of pollen beetle in the family Melyridae is Dicranolaius bellulus It is more of a predator than say Astylus species and is accordingly valued as an agent in pest management programs but pollen is a major part of its diet 3 4 Pollen beetles in the Nitidulidae edit nbsp Meligethes aeneusSeveral members of the Nitidulidae are similarly referred to as pollen beetles In particular practically all the species in the genus Meligethes are called pollen beetles Of these the most notorious is probably the one now accepted as being properly called Meligethes aeneus Brassicogethes aeneus It is called the Brassica pollen beetle Rape pollen beetle and similar names because it first became prominent as a pest of such crops in the first quarter of the 20th century 5 Pollen beetles in the Oedemeridae edit nbsp Oedemera simplexMany species in the family Oedemeridae are similarly called pollen beetles For example the Southern Pollen Beetle in the United States is Oxycopis notoxoides 6 See also editList of pollen beetles Nitidulidae recorded in BritainReferences edit McCall Andrew C amp Irwin Rebecca E Florivory the intersection of pollination and Herbivory Ecology Letters 2006 9 1351 1365 doi 10 1111 j 1461 0248 2006 00975 x a b Pollen Use in Insects ag arizona edu Retrieved 5 March 2018 Chew Peter Red and Blue Beetle Pollen Beetle Dicranolaius bellulus www brisbaneinsects com Retrieved 5 March 2018 Red and Blue Pollen Beetle www padil gov au Retrieved 5 March 2018 Kirton agricultural institute Lincolnshire England 1923 Annual Report Guardian printing works a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Ross H Arnett Jr 28 July 2000 American Insects A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico Second Edition CRC Press pp 18 ISBN 978 0 8493 0212 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pollen beetle amp oldid 1008570453, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
