Insect
Southern Dewstick Bug
Pameridea roridulaeAlso known as Roridula Bug
Southern dewstick bugs spend their entire lives navigating the deadly, resin-coated foliage of Roridula plants without ever becoming entangled. They sprint effortlessly across the sticky glandular hairs to feast on entrapped insects that the plant captures. In turn, their nutrient-rich droppings provide the host plant with vital nitrogen, forming an essential mutualistic partnership in nutrient-poor fynbos soils.
SymbioticFynbos EndemicSpecialist
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyTrapped flies, Trapped midges, Trapped small wasps
Predators
- Synaema marlothi
- Insectivorous birds
ThreatsHabitat loss from altered fire regimes and decline of host plants
HabitatsMontane fynbos and peat seeps hosting Roridula plants
Life spanSeveral months
Classification
- FamilyMiridae
- SpeciesPameridea roridulae
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Locate Host Plant: Search among the resinous leaves of wild Roridula gorgonias in fynbos reserves.
- Observe Stealthily: Watch closely with a hand lens to see adults sprinting over sticky droplets without sticking.
Host Plant (c) Brian du Preez, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Brian du Preez · cc-by-sa
Competitor (c) Debbie Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Debbie Taylor · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Chris Vynbos, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Chris Vynbos · cc-by-sa
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.