Beetle mating rituals key to Banksia populations

The nocturnal mating rituals of hairy scarab beetles are helping pollinate one of Perth's most common native trees, in a discovery that highlights the unusual adaptations of Australian plants and the unexpected pollination strategies still to be discovered. A four-year study led by La Trobe University discovered that the candlestick banksia is a rendezvous site for beetles to mate and feed on the flowers en masse at night.