Tree Metter
Suffering from predation by the finhopper (Ungoslontus salirecaudus), a population of painted metters sought out a different food source which was not so easily uprooted to keep themselves safe. The tree metter retains its ancestor’s size of 1 cm in length, and it lives and sucks on relatively tall woody polyphs such as P. phyllosymplegmus, P. chirapalamus, and P. akakius. As they no longer live in spiky polyphs, they have developed an extra pair of ejectable spikes on one of their body segments to help defend themselves from finhoppers when they trek between polyph hosts. They retain their ancestor’s venom and further contrast their colors as a warning.
Like its ancestor, the tree metter lives in large groups. These are led by a dominant female that does most of the egg-laying, though other females may sneak in their own eggs as well. They mate often and lay clutches of 6-10 eggs nearly every day in shaded areas, usually the undersides of leaves, on the polyphyta they suck from. These eggs are passively defended by the local group. The eggs hatch within 3 weeks, and it takes another 3 weeks for the hatchlings to mature.
