Pameridea marlothi, Northern Dewstick Bug, in habitat on Roridula dentata. Cederberg Mountain, South Africa.
What truly makes Roridula dentata interesting is the symbiotic or mutualistic relationship with the assassin bug Pameridea marlothi, also known as the northern dewstick bug. The Pameridia insects are adapted to move freely through the sticky resin of the Roridula with specialized feet and an exoskeleton covered by a greasy substance that resists the adhesion of the Roridula glue-like secretions. The Pameridia then feeds on insects captured by Roridula and excretes waste products onto the leaf surface that are absorbed into the plant for nutrition.
Equally as interesting, this Pameridia bug lives nowhere else but on the Roridula - an obligate mutualistic relationship. In these images multiple adult bugs are presented along with an immature insect feeding on a captured wasp.
Pameridea marlothi, Northern Dewstick Bug, in habitat on Roridula dentata. Cederberg Mountain, South Africa.
What truly makes Roridula dentata interesting is the symbiotic or mutualistic relationship with the assassin bug Pameridea marlothi, also known as the northern dewstick bug. The Pameridia insects are adapted to move freely through the sticky resin of the Roridula with specialized feet and an exoskeleton covered by a greasy substance that resists the adhesion of the Roridula glue-like secretions. The Pameridia then feeds on insects captured by Roridula and excretes waste products onto the leaf surface that are absorbed into the plant for nutrition.
Equally as interesting, this Pameridia bug lives nowhere else but on the Roridula - an obligate mutualistic relationship. In these images multiple adult bugs are presented along with an immature insect feeding on a captured wasp.