First record of Pelmatosilpha villana Saussure & Zehntner, 1893 (Blattodea: Blattidae) associated with bromeliads in Campo Rupestre in Brazil

This study provides the first record of the association between the cockroach Pelmatosilpha villana Saussure & Zehntner, 1893 (Blattodea: Blattidae) and three bromeliad species (Billbergia cf. vittata, Vriesea medusa, and Vriesea sp.) on rocky outcrops of Campo Rupestre in Pico do Itambé State Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Cockroaches, both juveniles and adults, were recorded in five bromeliads belonging to three species sheltered within the bromeliad rosettes, close to the phytotelmata. Given the saprophagous habit of cockroaches, it is likely that these insects exploit the organic matter accumulated in the bromeliads, potentially contributing to nutrient cycling. This interaction may benefit the bromeliads through the fragmentation and decomposition of organic material, thus promoting the release of essential nutrients, especially important in nutrient-poor soils such as those of the Campo Rupestre. These findings highlight the need for further research on the ecological interactions between cockroaches and bromeliads to better understand their ecological roles within this biome.