I have posted pics of my Sarracenia on this forum for a few years now. I thought (in my morbid science teacher way) that some of you might want to see what the pitcher looks like inside. This is an old pitcher and was full of moths, a couple lady bugs, a wasp and dozens of small insects. Enjoy, or not.
C
This is the pitcher after I cut it off, it was showing signs of decay. The pitcher is a modified leaf and the plants use the insects as a source for nitrogen not actually as a meal.
Here is the pitcher after its been cut apart and opened. I have cut open pitchers which were jammed up with various bugs. This one has an average amount for a one year old pitcher. Odd but this year its moths and in prior years it has been flies and wasps.
Very interesting Cheril, but where are the bugs?
All the dark matter in that second pic are bugs. LOL the whole thing is full of decayed bugs.
Oops!! I guess I posted before your second post, yes that is quite a collection of bugs.
Very cool!
Nature is a host of wonders. Thanks for the insight.
Anything called "autopsy" is going to get my attention!
thank you, "science teacher". I loved seeing that. Ive always wondered about those plants. I hope you took it to school to share with your students. Who isn't fascinated by bug trapping plants!
I take them every year and we do an "autopsy". One semester during the winter a yellow jacket came out of hibernation and flew out of one of the pitchers. That was exciting.
C
