Pitcher vegetation typically entice their insect victims with candy nectar earlier than trapping them in inescapable viscoelastic goo. However some species go even additional. Nepenthes gracilis, a species native to Southeast Asia makes use of its leafy springboard to lure its prey. As soon as an ant crawls to the underside of the leaf, a falling rain drop will spell its doom. When drops hit the leaf, it deflects down and jerks up, due to its form and stiffness. The movement catapults bugs into the pitcher, the place digestive fluids await. Whereas we’ve seen some fast-moving vegetation earlier than, it is a uncommon instance of a plant with an externally-driven pace mechanism. With it, the pitcher plant doesn’t have to attend or expend any metabolic effort to reset for the following insect. (Picture credit score: GFC Assortment/Alamy; analysis credit score: A. Lenz and U. Bauer; by way of New Scientist)
