Pameridea

Pameridea roridulae

Pameridea is a genus of plant bugs ( Miridae ). The species of the genus are distinguished in that they are a genus of carnivorous plants adapted particularly to the life of the plant bugs ( Roridula ).

Features

The Pameridea species are very long-legged, and the body is covered with fine hairs.

Life of bugs

Well known are the types Pameridea marlothii Poppius, 1911 and Pameridea roridulae Reuter, in 1907. P. roridulae is common to both types of bugs plants, P. Marlothi only Roridula dentata. Like their host plants also live bugs in the Fynbos region of South Africa.

Nutrition

The bugs feed on the insects that are caught by the plants. The plants themselves are not able to digest the insects, so are not " real" carnivorous plants. Instead, they take on the very thin cuticle on the nutrients contained in the excreta of the bugs. They cover up to 70 % of their nitrogen requirements through this excrement.

At times, if not enough glue remain prey to the plants or the population of bedbugs is too large, the animals stand on the plants and suck plant juices. This is also possible in other plants, so that the bugs get along in their diet for a longer time without any Bugs plants.

Avoiding the catch mechanisms

How accurate protect the bugs themselves before gluing - Stay, is not yet clear. It is assumed that the animals are capable of the special shape of their tarsi, to hold on to the lower parts of the stem glands of plants and largely not to come into contact with the sticky tip, in addition, they keep their body away from the surface of the plants, groom themselves frequently and have a method to get back to separate if necessary but Come in contact legs of the adhesive.

Enemies

In the plant the bugs Pameridea Bugs are safe from a lot of their predators. The only enemies that adjust the bugs on the plant, some are also specialized in the life of the plant bugs spiders. It is the crab spider Synema marlothii. This has specialized in addition to the consumption of animals captured by the plant on catching the bugs.

Use

Both types are meaningless for humans. From collectors of carnivorous plants Pameridea occasionally to Bugs roridulae plants cultivated Pameridea Marlothi is not (any longer ) in culture.

Evidence

Dolling WR, Palmer JM (1991 ): Pameridea ( Hemiptera: Miridae ): predaceous bugs specific to the highly viscid plant genus Roridula. Syst. Entomol. 16:319 - 328