Carnivory in Action

A wasp stuck in a pitcher plant.

I sometimes see small insects stuck in the pitchers of these carnivorous plants, but seldom ones as large as this wasp.  I watched him for awhile, and he (she?) just cannot get back up, the feet keep sliding down, towards the pool of digestive enzymes at the bottom.  However, bees and wasps are often able to chew right through the side of the pitcher and effect an escape that way.

It's a plant eats insect world out there!

Happy gardening!  Though the heat and drought are pretty bad here in my part of central Virginia...