Sarracenia's & Yellow Jackets

Carlstrom_Rick (Carlstrom_Rick%P-AME-HQ.CCBRIDGE.SEAA.mrouter@seaa.navsea.navy.mil)
22 Feb 96 12:25:00 EST



>>> ... watching yellowjackets continuously dive bomb Sarracenias
>>> one after another...


I have had the same experience. After moving my S. flava outdoors
last spring (Northern Virginia USA) I could not believe the number of
yellow jackets (wasps) caught by this plant. Every day after work I
would lift the lids to observe the insect carnage. Two pitchers
filled to the point of overflowing.

I wondered where all the wasps came from. When the fall hit and
the leaves dropped off of the trees I noticed a large (2' diameter}
wasp nest in a tree less than 100' away. I wonder, if the wasps built
this nest because they thought it was close to a food source or if it
predated the moving of the S. flava outdoors.

Anyway, if you live in a climate that permits it, definitely put
your Sarracenias outdoors. You won't be disappointed


Thanks
Rick