Abstract: During late August 1992, field observations were undertaken on the feeding and general behaviour of the native weevil Pelororrhinus interstitialis Lea (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Banksia robur heathland near Hastings Point, north-eastern New South Wales. The species is one of the first flower inhabiting Coleoptera to emerge after winter and congregates and feeds on the flowers of Leptospermum semibaccatum Cheel (Myrtaceae) and does not appear to feed on flowers of co-blooming plant species. The females are usually larger and less common than the males. The beetles appear to have a short adult life span and were not present after the cessation of flowering of the host plant during early to mid-September 1992, even though other Leptospermum species were beginning to flower at that time.

Download PDF