>I read a reference some time ago (maybe in Gordon Cheers' book, maybe -
>I can't remember) that one (or some) Australian Utrics are partial to
>cane toad (Bufo marinus) tadpoles and that there is some thought that
>they might be of use in cane toad control.
>
>Does anyone know anything about this? Like which Utrics? Does anyone
>in the group know if anyone in Australia is pursuing this seriously?
I believe that this information originated from a quiz in the Australian
Carnivorous Plant Society bulletin (March 1985).The quiz was entitled
"CP Trifling Pursuit" and was structed with 12 easy questions, 12
difficult questions and 12 questions under the heading of "You've got to
be joking". The reference to the tadpole eating Utric was in the last
section and the question read as follows:
"In Queensland the particularly voracious little Utricularia know as
aurea wiped out a frog species by gobbling up all of its tadpoles. Name
that frog." The answer was given as "Bufo marina (sic)". Anyone who has
been to northern Australia will attest that the cane toad is alive and
well (unfortunately) and has become an absolute nightmare.
I believe the questions in the "You've got to be joking section" were a
humerous dig at CP and in no way were supposed to be taken seriously.
In fact I believe there was a question about Charles Darwin's sister's
aunt or some such ;) Unfortunately humour does not translate all that
well and recently the ACPS had another query regarding the frog eating
Utric's of northern Australia from an international journal.
Cheers
Terry