Natural Sugar Trap. Vespula vulgaris, Common Wasp, and Cape Sundew, Drosera capensis, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The young'uns have flown their nest and no longer provide Wasp with their sweet nutrients. So it must fly out to seek what it needs. Late Summer has fewer nectar-producing flowers, at least in the dry spell we're having. So this particular Wasp was reduced to following the alluring odor of Cape Sundew, the well-known carnivorous plant. Its 'hairs' secrete those little, sparkling drops of 'dew' that have a sweet, fruity scent (the taste to me, at least, is not at all sweet). But beware! that stong viscous fluid serves as a sticky trap for the nourishment of the plants whose tendrils will fold around an unaware, caught insect. Bingo! A good meal, certainly if the unfortunate creature is as large as our ensnared Wasp. More digestive secretions will within half a day or so have reduced Wasp to plant nutrient leaving only its chitin as a sign of a filling meal.
Natural Sugar Trap. Vespula vulgaris, Common Wasp, and Cape Sundew, Drosera capensis, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The young'uns have flown their nest and no longer provide Wasp with their sweet nutrients. So it must fly out to seek what it needs. Late Summer has fewer nectar-producing flowers, at least in the dry spell we're having. So this particular Wasp was reduced to following the alluring odor of Cape Sundew, the well-known carnivorous plant. Its 'hairs' secrete those little, sparkling drops of 'dew' that have a sweet, fruity scent (the taste to me, at least, is not at all sweet). But beware! that stong viscous fluid serves as a sticky trap for the nourishment of the plants whose tendrils will fold around an unaware, caught insect. Bingo! A good meal, certainly if the unfortunate creature is as large as our ensnared Wasp. More digestive secretions will within half a day or so have reduced Wasp to plant nutrient leaving only its chitin as a sign of a filling meal.