Strategies

Day 269: If you have ever accidentally come into contact with fly-paper or a sticky trap, you can appreciate an insect's panicked reaction to becoming stuck on a Sundew. The difference is that you were in no danger of being consumed, and only had to find some sort of approved solvent to cleanse the gluey residue from your fingers once you'd pried yourself loose. You did not struggle and further ensnare yourself with each flutter of your wings or thrashing of your limbs; you did not feel enzymes beginning to dissolve your soft tissues like some bizarre form of flesh-eating bacteria. A Round-leaved Sundew is ruthless. Each of the fine hairs surrounding its spatulate disk is tipped with a drop of something far less forgiving than instant glue, creating an ambush which only the strongest can elude. The righthand photo shows a Sundew from which an insect has escaped. Notice that at the 1 o'clock position, the hairs are missing from the disk, wrenched away by a more fortunate bug than most. On the other hand, the predatory strength of Sundew "glue" is clearly indicated in the lefthand image (side view) where a single Drosera paddle has snagged a damselfly dinner. And forgive me, for as curious as those of you who have ever licked a piece of frozen metal may be, it must be stated that I have never prodded a Sundew. Sorry, kids. If you want that experience, you'll have to find your own plants.