Date: Thu, 17 Apr 1997 16:51:21 -0400 From: BREWER__CHARLES@ecomail.damneck.navy.mil To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg1496$foo@default> Subject: Re: Re. VFT Traps Dying, and ????
I have had the same problem with my VFT traps turning black and dying after
feeding them what are commonly referred to as 'Box Elder bugs/beetles'. I
tried these bugs since I have (literally) THOUSANDS around some of the trees
in my yard.
I grow hundreds of VFTs and feed as many as I can by hand. I feed them
everything from cut up snails to what ever flies, walks or crawls into the
greenhouse. I also have been known to BYOB (Bring My Own Bugs) in as well.
I have found that each VFT trap seems to be good for one large meal or a
couple of small meals. I find that the larger the catch is, more then likely the
trap will not be active again. Catching and digesting bugs are not easy for
these plants. First the plant has to hang onto its catch. There's always the
possibility of several failed attempts, resulting in a weaken trap.
If the plant is successful in capturing a bug, a struggle is surely to follow
between the trap and it's pray. The insects attempt to escape capture can easily
result in trap damage. This in itself allows bacteria and fungus to invade the
trap's tissue. Depending on how much damage has been inflected, there's a good
chance that the trap will become nonfunctional, eventually
ending in decay (black traps). I'm wondering if this is somehow helpful to the
plant by providing some added nourishment for it (?).
I have seen other insects feeding off the captured bug. I don't know if the
feeding insect is doing any real damage to the plant, but the next time I see a
free loader sneaking a free lunch, I will look close to see if he's helping it's
self to a little free salad as well. If so, he will surely end up as a meal for
the next Hungry Mouth.
After the flytrap catches a meal. The plants starts a growing cycle. This can
easily be observed within two weeks of insect capture. New traps are formed
while existing traps increase in size. As each traps becomes depleted other
traps takes there place. Is there no end to this cycle?. God, I hope not!
Charles Brewer
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