''Pameridea'' is a genus of insects comprising two species, ''P. roridulae'' and ''P. marlothii'', that live in

symbiotic relationships Symbiosis (from Ancient Greek, Greek , , "living together", from , , "together", and , bíōsis, "living") is any type of a close and long-term biological interaction between two different Organism, biological organisms, be it Mutualism (biolog ...

with

carnivorous plant Carnivorous plants are plants that derive some or most of their nutrients from trapping and consuming animals or protozoans Protozoa (singular: protozoan or protozoon; alternative plural: protozoans) are a group of single-celled eukaryot ...

s in the genus '' Roridula''. ''Pameridea marlothii'' only occurs on ''R. dentata'', while ''P. roridulae'' exists on both ''R. dentata'' and ''R. gorgonias''.

Life cycle

''Pameridea roridulae'' can only live on ''Roridula'', where it feeds on insects that the plant captures with its resin-tipped trichomes.Voigt, D. and Gorb S. (2008) An insect trap as habitat: cohesion-failure mechanism prevents adhesion of ''Pameridea roridulae'' bugs to the sticky surface of the plant ''Roridula gorgonias''. The Journal of Experimental Biology 211, 2647-2657. After devouring the captured arthropods, bugs in the genus excrete waste, which the plant absorbs using glands, making it an example of symbiosis. ''Pameridea'' also mates while on the plant, and hatchlings continue to live on the ''Roridula'' plant.

Conservation status

Since it is symbiotic with ''Roridula'', its conservation status depends on the status of the plant. The ''Roridula'' plant is scarce in the wild, due to collecting, pollution, and habitat destruction, although it is secure in cultivation from avid

enthusiasts.

Characteristics

''Pameridea roridulae'' and ''P. marlothii'' both have wings; however they are not very good fliers. They are small bugs, usually not reaching more than a few millimetres in size.

Relationship with ''Roridula''

The relationship with ''Roridula'' consists primarily of the fact that ''Roridula'' produces a resin that cannot digest captured insects like other carnivorous plants such as '' Dionaea muscipula'', '' Drosera'', '' Pinguicula'', and ''

Nepenthes ''Nepenthes'' () is a genus of carnivorous plants, also known as tropical pitcher plants, or monkey cups, in the monotypic family Nepenthaceae. The genus includes about 170 species, and numerous natural and many cultivated hybrids. They are mos ...

''. Thus, ''P. roridulae'' and ''P. marlothii'' devour the trapped insects on the ''Roridula'' and then excrete waste that is consumable by the plant to supplement its diet, since it grows in nutrient poor soil. Without the ''Roridula'', ''Pameridea'' cannot find a food source and ultimately die. Because ''P. roridulae'' and ''P. marlothii'' eat and digest the food for the plant, some

enthusiasts consider ''Roridula'' only sub-carnivorous. However, '' Sarracenia purpurea'' uses a variety of worms to digest captured

arthropods Arthropods (, (gen. ποδός)) are invertebrate animals with an exoskeleton, a Segmentation (biology), segmented body, and paired jointed appendages. Arthropods form the phylum Arthropoda. They are distinguished by their jointed limbs and Arth ...

for them, as does ''

Darlingtonia californica ''Darlingtonia californica'' , also called the California pitcher plant, cobra lily, or cobra plant, is a species of carnivorous plant. It is the sole member of the genus ''Darlingtonia'' in the family Sarraceniaceae. This pitcher plant is nativ ...

'', and these plants are generally considered carnivorous. ''Pameridea'' have special feet with hairs on them that allow them to run through the plants' resin without being caught in it.

References

External links

Information on ''P. marlothii'' and ''P. roridulae'' and ''Roridula'' plants in general
{{Taxonbar, from=Q146616 Miridae genera Dicyphini