Caring for Pollinators - Bundesamt für Naturschutz

Hamm Fact sheet pollinators: Beetles (Coleoptera)
POLLINATOR GROUP:
BEETLES
Order: Coleoptera
Author: ANDREE´ HAMM
Species number
Worldwide: 380.000
Number of families: 187
Distribution
Trichodes apiarius (Cleridae) pollinating Leucanthemum vulgare (Asteraceae),
Photo: M. Schindler
Beetles live on all continents except Antarctica. They are the insect order which is represented
with the most species worldwide. Because of their enormous diversity, they occupy
all biotops except ice and pure salt water.
Beetles biology and pollination
The order Coleoptera comprises the largest number of pollinating species and individuals. A
lot of beetle species live only on the flower products nectar and pollen (e.g. Nitidulidae,
Cerambycidae, Buprestidae). Many predatory species additionally eat pollen of different
flowers. While feeding in a flower beetles frequently get in contact with both anthers and
stigmas. Some beetles are good pollinators as larvae (e.g. Meloe spec.). After hatching the
larvae climb into specific flowers, where they feed on pollen. When an adequate host bee
visits the flower the beetle larva mounts the bee (e.g. Andrena spec.) and is carried to its
nest. There it feeds on the bee´s larva provisions.
Major flower preferences
Flowers pollinated by beetles emit strong odours to attract their pollinators. Odour emission
often is enforced by the warming of the flowers through the sun light. Visual cues are not so
167