 The New Holland honeyeater ( Phylidonyris novaehollandiae ) is a major visitor and pollinator of Banksia verticillata . These birds can travel 15 m ( 50 ft ) between inflorescences in a feeding session , and preferentially choose flower spikes with partly opened flowers . Other honeyeater species observed , the white @-@ cheeked honeyeater ( Phylidonyris nigra ) and western spinebill ( Acanthorhynchus superciliosus ) , visit this species to a much lesser extent . The brown honeyeater ( Lichmera indistincta ) has also been recorded as a visitor . Small mammals are not major pollinators , although bush rats ( Rattus fuscipes ) and house mice ( Mus musculus ) have been recorded . Honey bees ( Apis mellifera ) visit flower spikes but are not effective pollinators . 
