Patterns of Predispersal Seed Predators in the Fabaceae of the Sydney Region, South-Eastern Australia

Abstract

Predispersal seed predators are widespread throughout the legume flora of south-eastern Australia. Within the Coleoptera, weevils, anthribids and bruchids are important seed predators. Some weevils are restricted to certain host plant genera and are found on many species of these genera, e.g. Melanterius on Acacia; Plaesiorhinus on Bossiaea. Anthribids and bruchids are found in a range of plant genera. Host-specific relationships in these latter two groups must await further insect collections and subsequent taxonomic treatments of the insects involved. More generalist seed feeders are some Hymenoptera, including Eurytoma (Eurytomidae) and probably Megastigmus (Torymidae). Other hymenopterans associated with seeds are mostly parasitic on coleopteran larvae, e.g. Diospilus spp. (Brachonidae) on Plaesiorhinus (Curculionidae). Lepidopterans are also widespread seed feeders; however, detailed relationships between lepidoptera and host plants requires successful rearing of adult moths. Hemipterans are probably relatively unimportant as destructive seed feeders in south-eastern Australian legumes.