Pollen beetle damage in organic rape cultivation

Pollen beetle (Meligethes aeneus) infests closed buds of organic oilseed rape (Brassica napus), causing significant yield losses. No chemical controls are approved for organic farming, so prevention is critical. The leaflet details the pest's biology, monitoring techniques, and management strategies, including promoting rapid growth and timely flowering to reduce vulnerability. It reviews current integrated pest management research and references resources from Bioaktuell and FiBL for further guidance on regulating pollen beetles in oilseed rape.