Canola School: Do you Know the Pollen Beetle?

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Brassicogethes aeneus, commonly referred to as the pollen beetle and formerly known as Meligethes aeneus, is a major pest of canola in countries like Scandinavia, and, is now present in eastern Canada. And, though they are not yet a problem in western Canada, entomologists are suggesting we become familiar with what to look for.

“One nice thing about telling lots of people what to look for, is then we’re more likely to find it early and we may be able to do an eradication if we find it before it’s well established,” says Scott Meers, insect management specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development.

Pollen beetle larvae develop from eggs laid in flower buds of host plants, where they feed on pollen and nectar well into their adult lives. But, even as adults, they can be tricky to find. They’re tiny — sizing in at only about 2-3mm in length and 1-2mm in width — and black, with a hint of metallic green. 

Meers was one of the speakers at CanoLAB in Saskatoon, where we caught up with him to find out more about the aptly named pollen beetle, in this episode of the Canola School:

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Canola School (view all)Season 7 (2015) Episode 22
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