Pollen beetle but pollen is a major part of its diet. Several members of the Nitidulidae are similarly referred to as pollen beetles. In particular, practically all the species in the genus "Meligethes" are called pollen beetles. Of these the most notorious is probably the one now accepted as being properly called "Meligethes aeneus"/"Brassicogethes aeneus". It is called the "Brassica pollen beetle", "Rape pollen beetle" and similar names, because it first became prominent as a pest of such crops in the first quarter of the 20th century. Many species in the family Oedemeridae are similarly called "pollen beetles". For example, the Southern
Diaspore (botany) Diaspore (botany) In botany, a diaspore is a plant dispersal unit consisting of a seed or spore plus any additional tissues that assist dispersal. In some seed plants, the diaspore is a seed and fruit together, or a seed and elaiosome. In a few seed plants, the diaspore is most or all of the plant, and is known as a tumbleweed. Diaspores are common in weedy and ruderal species. Collectively, diaspores, seeds, and spores that have been modified for migration are known as "disseminules". A diaspore of seed plus elaiosome is a common adaptation to seed dispersal by ants (myrmecochory).