Big error in feeding VFT - pill bugs

DAVIDDOG@aol.com
Sat, 23 Mar 1996 12:50:03 -0500

In a post in CPD 658, Steve assumed that his feeding of the isopods usually
called "pillbugs", "sowbugs" or "potatobugs" caused a reaction in his VFT. He
attributed this to presumed contamination of the "bugs" with creosote from
the railroad ties ( sleepers ); I would like to offer an alternative
interpretation.

As a reptile and amphibian keeper, I've had occassion to utilize all sorts of
crawlies for frog-food; early on I learned that sowbugs have a toxic compound
that makes them distasteful to almost all animals ( I believe it is a
cyanide-based compound but I could find no references in my library - all my
insect books don't include isopods )
I think that was the cause of the VFT necrosis and die-back. Perhaps other
growers have similar experiences?

Dravid Gray,
Chairperson pro-tem for the Committee for the Return of Isopods to the Sea

>Hello all. Early this spring just as my largest and oldest VFT was
>sending up a flower stalk it got warm 65%F hopeing to get more seed I
>found some small woodlice "pillbugs" under a railroad tie to feed them.
>Only after the plant started to die did I even think of creosote! I saved
>the plant :-> by cuting off all of the traps+leaves that I had fed but
>?lost the flower stalk. :-( I have learned a valuable lesson with all the
>work I do to give my plants pure soil and water I never considered the
>purity of the insects I feed my plants. Older and hopefuly a little wiser
>Steve Lanham