The chemical pull of nectar is more than just temptation for a fly, it’s an opportunity for survival and future generations. The quarry appears unguarded: no confined spaces, no spiders lurking in clustered petals, just a thin lip lined with sustenance. (It’s a literal version of the “free lunch” we sapiens have been warned about.) The waxen walls of the pitcher plant make short work of the insect’s struggles, and it slips into a pool of digestive fluid where it slowly disintegrates at the hands (flagella?) of bacteria and plant-based enzymes. That’s all just a long way of saying that … Continue reading Nature is Beautiful (Vol. V – Tree Weirdos)