The cockroach: a largely overlooked pollinator

The parasitic plant Balanophora tobiracola is characterized by unusual mushroom-shaped inflorescences that emerge just above the ground. As it lacks chlorophyll and therefore unable to photosynthesize, B draws its nourishment from roots of other living plants. Owing non-photosynthetic habit, can tolerate shadiest forest floors, which are relatively few herbaceous angiosperms their typical pollinators such as bees butterflies. tobiracola’s largely atypical morphology habitat suggest may rely on pollinators. On Yakushima Island, in Japan’s Ōsumi archipelago, we observed cockroaches (Margattea satsumana) frequently visiting pollinating tobiracola. insects bustled rapidly over they fed pollen nectar, consequently, mouthparts were covered large quantities pollen. To date, have been disregarded potential pollinators; indeed, there studies cockroach pollination systems. Nonetheless, a nearly ubiquitous distribution, several species consume floral resources. generally nocturnal, interactions with plants usually cryptic humans. Therefore, reevaluation required. Although many consider among Earth’s most despised creatures, important roles our ecosystems should not be ignored. cockroach-mediated here suggests systems involving unexpected taxa more widespread than previously believed.