Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 22:39:47 EDT From: CMcdon0923@aol.com To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg3277$foo@default> Subject: Re: Sarrs. and Moths
In a message dated 10/13/98 4:52:06 AM Central Daylight Time,
cp@opus.hpl.hp.com writes:
<< Here the central Florida I am about 200-300 miles from Natural populations
of S. leucophylla and have noticed that the pitchers produced in autumn are
death on native moths. I believe that is the reason for the luminous white
pitchers, to attract night-flying moths. The timing of the traps in fall
seems to coexist with the hatching of moths. The pitchers fill within days of
opening. >>
VERY interesting to hear about the moths. Here in North Texas (30 miles north
of Dallas), my S. flava, alata, and young leucophylla are stuffing themselves
on moths too. (This is the same leuc. that the wasps almost destroyed during
the summer, but it now has three new traps, and is extracting its revenge on
the moths.) Even traps that aren't completely open yet have one or two which
have managed to squirm their way in. I've also noted that moths have the
ability to chew through the walls of the traps. I watched one moth crawl out
through a small hole.
I've actually removed many carcasses from some traps because it seems that the
traps have a tendency to turn brown when they fill up with moths, especially
the flava. Even brand new traps will turn brown within a few days of opening.
I finally put the (anti-wasp) netting back over the plants until the abundance
of moths dies down.
Even on my VFTs, which set right next to the Sarrs, the traps turn black and
die if they have a moth in them. Do moths contain some type of toxin?
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