Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2000 09:29:43 -0800 From: Ivan Snyder <bioexp@juno.com> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg367$foo@default> Subject: Ping Observation/Explanation
Hi again CPers,
> While seeing Pinguicula macroceras var. nortensis in its natural
>sites up in Northern California I observed something which at first had
>me very curios. It seemed impossible that this
>plant could capture such sized insects which would seem to have no
>trouble in struggling free. Many plants had housefly sized flying
insects
>and a few even had great big dragon flies! Funny thing though, when I
sprinkle
>live fruitflies on my butterworts here at home they nearly always get
>free from the plants and have no trouble doing so. So then, how can we
>explain the large size of the insects which are captured in nature?
My idea to account for the plant capturing large insects in nature is
this: Perhaps the insects settle down on the leaves in the evening and
then become inactive with the cooling night. Meanwhile, during the night,
the butterwort's leaves fold over the sleeping insect. By morning, escape
is too late for the insect. Has this explantation occurred to anyone
else?
Ivan Snyder
Hermosa Beach
California
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