Sep 26, 2006

Ego Killer

Yummy. Here is a nice crispy and long-dead bee that didn't survive its meeting with a venus fly rap. I must say, that has got to be an ego killer. Of all the many ways an insect can die - to be caught by a plant and eaten? A plant? True, they are one of the fastest plants on the planet, but still.

And why do venus flytraps dine on bugs? I would have chosen to ambush nice western bacon cheeseburgers or pepperoni pizzas instead.

Thanks for the photo, Jonathan.

6 comments:

Garfman said...

Sure, bacon cheeseburgers are all well and good (I'm pretty sure people who keep flytraps can feed 'em hamburger), but how many of them fly into bogs?

Raging Wombat said...

While I'll admit that not many bacon cheeseburgers make their way into bogs, I don't want any excuses. If a plant can be clever enough to lure and capture a bee, then why not lure and capture a Carl's Jr. employee?

Garfman said...

If that were to happen, then I would applaud the plant's contribution to the natural selection of the human race.

Raging Wombat said...

That's the spirit! Now, on to creating the venus carlsjunioremployeetrap plant. How about it, science?

Chris Kreussling (Flatbush Gardener) said...

"Why do venus flytraps dine on bugs?"

For the nitrogen, the "N" in "NPK" of fertilizers. Most carnivorous plants are native to sandy, boggy or swampy habitats, often acidic, in which nitrogenous material is not present or readily available from the soil. Insects, a good source of protein, fill in.

Raging Wombat said...

Thanks for the info, xris. I wonder what the N value of a Carl's Jr. employee is ...