Floircring Plants of New Zealand. 95 



but not all the Pluitoyliacja^ are found on flowering plants. 

 Arnomus Brouni, though very rare, is generally found on 

 Leptospcrmum. Eleven species of the genus Colaspis, usually 

 found in abundance, frequent the inflorescence of many 

 shrubs." In addition to this valuable information, I am 

 informed by Professor Hutton that " LyiKvohius Jmtioiii ai^d 

 Inophlwv.s ilium, two large weevils^ are only found on 

 spear-grass {Aciphjlla) ; and Cuttalia griscipila is mucli 

 more abundant on them than anywhere else. However, I 

 think that Lypcrohius huttoiii lives on the juices of the 

 leaves." 



From the foregoing remarks it will be seen that a further 

 acquaintance with the Coleoptera of the colony hardly 

 justifies the statement that they are " strikingly deficient 

 in variety.'' 



In regard to the Hymenoptera, we are still in great 

 ignorance ; Mr Wallace states that there are only " a score 

 of species." They certainly are very poorly represented, 

 but as soon as an attempt is made to catalogue them, they 

 will be found to be much more numerous than is supposed. 

 Professor Hutton informs me that there are 10 species of 

 bees, all of which are flower-visitants, and some of them 

 are very abundant in individuals. But there are many 

 other families fairly-well represented, some of which are 

 flower-visitants. He has taken many small species of 

 brightly-coloured Chalcididaj on flowers, but is of opinion 

 that they visit flowers in search of Aj^his and other insects 

 in which to lay their eggs. 



The Neuroptera, Orthoptera, and Homoptera do not, as 

 far as I am aware, furnish any flower-visitants, and there- 

 fore do not need to be considered by me. 



The Ileteroptera have not been catalogued, and are very 

 scarce according to Mr Wallace ; but even of these 

 Professor Hutton assures me that there are many flower- 

 visiting species, among which Annhis vittahts, Rhopali- 

 morpha ohscura, Nysius Zealandicus, and N. huttoni are 

 very abundant. 



Even perhaps if the orders of insects already mentioned 

 were all that were represented in New Zealand, which 

 affected the fertilisation of our flowering plants, we should 

 be compelled to admit that they exercised a considerable 



