WINTERING CHARACTERISTIC OF THE MELIGETHES SPECIES IN HUNGARY

The pollen beetle is one of the most important pests of the rape fields in Hungary. Profound knowledge in the biology and ecology of it is required to make the plant protection treatments more effi cient. A study was carried out in 2002 with an objective to explore the possible differences among the various species of genus Meligethes in their overwintering customs. During my research of overwintering I studied places with different conditions. Leaf samples which fell to the ground were collected to establish the most preferable type of wintering layer. Then the samples were placed in separator bags, which made it possible to observe the emergence of the beetles in early spring. My results show that four species were found in the samples: Meligethes aeneus Fabricius, 1775, Meligethes coracinus Sturm, 1845, Meligethes viridescens Fabricius, 1787 and Meligethes picipes Sturm, 1845. I did not fi nd decisive differences on how these species select their wintering places, yet there was a main divergence in the period of time in their emergence. It was discovered that Meligethes aeneus preceded the three other related species.