Nature works in mysterious ways.
For years, I thought there were two basic roles in life:
- You eat
or - You get eaten.
Predator or prey…that’s the question.
Recently I found out that it can be mutual as well.
You eat, while getting eaten: fair cross.
All right, I might exaggerate a bit, but this roughly describes the relationship between insect and sundew.
Fatal attraction
Sundews grow in nutrient-poor soil, so they rely on insects to supplement their diet.
To lure them in, the plant uses two types of glands.
One produces a sweet, sticky secretion to lure them poor bug.
As soon as the insect has landed, the sundew shows her less charming side and gland two starts fulfilling her task. This gland doesn’t seduce but comes straight to the point and she slowly but surely absorbs the creature.
And this is the true nature of sundew: a vicious sticky deathtrap, disguised as lovely glittering dew drops. A sparkly executioner in disguise.
A last supper
If you ask me, this kind of behaviour just screams for a Darwin Award
But I’m a sentimental fool.
I just can’t ignore these two enormous brown (or blue or even red) eyes….
So if the point of no return hasn’t been reached yet, I quickly liberate the unfortunate buggers.
No photo is worth that kind of existential mess. It’s a pity for the photos…and of course for all the photo-friends I lost.
More Flower Photography
More Insect Photography
