Common Pollen Beetle vs Corn Earworm

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Common Pollen Beetle Corn Earworm
Scientific Name Brassicogethes aeneus Helicoverpa zea
Order Coleoptera Lepidoptera
Family Nitidulidae Noctuidae
Size 2-3 mm 35-40 mm wingspan
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Pollen Feeders Fruit Feeders
Regions Europe, Asia, North America Americas
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Common Pollen Beetle

A tiny iridescent green-black beetle that congregates in yellow flowers to feed on pollen. It is a major pest of oilseed rape crops.

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Did You Know?

On warm days they can be so numerous on yellow flowers that a single buttercup may contain a dozen individuals.

Corn Earworm

A highly polyphagous moth whose caterpillars feed inside corn ears, tomato fruits, and cotton bolls. It is one of the costliest crop pests in the Americas.

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Did You Know?

Caterpillars are cannibalistic, so usually only one survives per corn ear.