Fatal attraction: carnivorous plants roll out the red carpet to lure insects

Biology Letters
H Martin Schaefer, Graeme D Ruxton

Abstract

We provide the first experimental test of the hypothesis that the coloration of carnivorous plants can act as a signal to lure insects and thus enhance capture rates. An experimental approach was needed to separate effects of the visual appearance of plants from those of traits that may correlate with appearance and also affect capture rates. We compared insect capture rates of pitcher plants with artificially coloured red and green pitchers in a paired design, and found that plants with red pitchers captured significantly more flying insects. Thus, we present the first experimental evidence of visual signalling in carnivorous plants. Further, it has previously been suggested that carnivorous plants use contrasting stripes or UV marks on their pitchers to lure insects; our results emphasize that insect traps do not need to sport contrasting colours to be attractive; it might be sufficient to be different from the background.

References

Sep 1, 2005·Die Naturwissenschaften·Jacobus C BiesmeijerAmots Dafni
Dec 22, 2005·BioEssays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology·H Martin Schaefer, Gregor Rolshausen
Apr 20, 2007·Biology Letters·H Martin Schaefer, Gregor Rolshausen
Jan 1, 2007·The American Naturalist·H Martin SchaeferMisha Vorobyev

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Feb 14, 2009·Journal of Experimental Botany·Aaron M Ellison, Nicholas J Gotelli
Jan 15, 2014·Journal of Experimental Botany·Jürgen KreuzwieserHeinz Rennenberg
May 12, 2009·Biology Letters·Katherine F Bennett, Aaron M Ellison
May 14, 2010·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·David E JenningsJason R Rohr
Dec 23, 2011·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Andreas JürgensD Max Suckling
Feb 19, 2016·Scientific Reports·Ashraf M El-SayedDavid M Suckling
Apr 30, 2015·AoB Plants·Beatriz Fernández-MarínJosé Ignacio García-Plazaola
Sep 23, 2011·Annals of Botany·Elzbieta KrólKazimierz Trebacz
Nov 10, 2013·Annals of Botany·Andrej PavlovičLubomír Adamec
May 30, 2015·American Journal of Botany·Nils BertolFernando Ojeda
Apr 25, 2013·BioEssays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology·Simon PoppingaThomas Speck
Jan 4, 2017·The New Phytologist·Lukas FasbenderHeinz Rennenberg
Dec 7, 2018·Life Science Alliance·Russell L MalmbergMagdy S Alabady
Jun 16, 2012·Chemistry & Biodiversity·Paul A Egan, Frank van der Kooy
Jul 22, 2021·FEBS Open Bio·Alberto Dávila-LaraAxel Mithöfer
Nov 25, 2021·Microbiology Spectrum·Scott M YourstoneNikolas M Stasulli

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.