Samples of fruit collected from woody plants in central South Island lowland forests, showed that nine species were more or less heavily affected by insect seed predation (more than 10% of seeds and up to 63% eaten in some samples). One obligate seed-eater each occurred in seven of these; the rest had two or more. Two were also attacked by facultative seed-eaters. A further eight species of plants were affected to a lesser degree by obligate or facultative seed-eating insects. Moth larvae from

more »

... ine families and ten genera are the main seed eaters, but weevils are important for some plant species.