Fauna
Plant

Northern Dewstick

Roridula dentata

Also known as Toothed Flycatcher Bush, Flycatcher Bush

Northern dewsticks are woody, resinous shrubs endemic to the rugged fynbos mountains of South Africa's Western Cape. Rather than producing digestive enzymes, their toothed leaves secrete an exceptionally potent, resin-based glue that snags large insects, from wasps to small beetles. They rely on specialized mutualistic mirid bugs that navigate the sticky foliage unharmed, consume the trapped prey, and deposit nutrient-rich frass that the plant absorbs directly through leaf pores.

ProtocarnivorousFynbos EndemicShrub
Northern Dewstick reference1 / 7
(c) Brian du Preez, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Brian du Preez · cc-by-sa
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Near ThreatenedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNear ThreatenedRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyFlying insects, Beetles, Wasps
ThreatsInappropriate fire regimes, invasive alien vegetation, and restricted geographic range
HabitatsMontane fynbos on sandstone slopes and rocky ravines
Life span10–30 years
Classification
  1. FamilyRoridulaceae
  2. SpeciesRoridula dentata
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Look for a slender, woody shrub with distinctively toothed, glandular-haired leaves clustered toward branch tips.
Support conservation
Observe plants from established hiking paths without breaking branches or disturbing the resident symbiotic insects.
Responsible observation
  • Look Closely: Search resin-coated branches for mutualistic mirid bugs moving without sticking.
  • Do Not Touch: Avoid brushing foliage, as the resinous secretions are tenaciously sticky and difficult to wash off.
  • Stay on Trails: Montane fynbos habitats are fragile and slow to recover from trampling.
Related species
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