JamesO'Neill
Dangerous Droplet
A blob of nectar on the lip of a Sarracenia pitcher plant is a tempting prospect for an unwary ant...unfortunately, several minutes after filling himself with nectar, he tumbled into the digestive juices at the bottom and was eaten by the plant.
The plant plays a second trick on the ant as well - the nectar is in fact laced with coniine - a drug which causes the insects to become woozy and drunken, and allows them to drop their guard and drop into the pitcher.
Dangerous Droplet
A blob of nectar on the lip of a Sarracenia pitcher plant is a tempting prospect for an unwary ant...unfortunately, several minutes after filling himself with nectar, he tumbled into the digestive juices at the bottom and was eaten by the plant.
The plant plays a second trick on the ant as well - the nectar is in fact laced with coniine - a drug which causes the insects to become woozy and drunken, and allows them to drop their guard and drop into the pitcher.