Pest Management Science (2017) 73, 1076-1082

Alice L. Mauchline, Samantha M. Cook, Wilf Powell, Jason W. Chapman and Juliet L. Osborne (2017)
Migratory flight behaviour of the pollen beetle Meligethes aeneus
Pest Management Science 73 (6), 1076-1082
Abstract:
BACKGROUND
The field ecology of the pollen beetle Meligethes aeneus and its damaging effects on oilseed rape crops are well understood. However, the flight behaviour of M. aeneus, in particular the drivers for migratory movements across the landscape, is not well studied. We combined three established methodologies – suction traps, vertical-looking radar and high-altitude aerial netting – to demonstrate that M. aeneus flies at a range of altitudes at different points during its active season.
RESULTS
By linking evidence of high-altitude mass migration with immigration of pollen beetles into oilseed rape fields, we were able to 'ground-truth' the results to characterise the seasonal movements of this pest across the landscape.
CONCLUSION
We demonstrate that this novel combination of methodologies can advance our understanding of the population movements of pollen beetles and could provide an opportunity to develop predictive models to estimate the severity and timing of pest outbreaks.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Alice L. Mauchline, Samantha M. Cook, Jason W. Chapman

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
population dynamics/ epidemiology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Brassicogethes aeneus		United Kingdom