DIFFERENTIAL ESCAPE OF INSECTS FROM CARNIVOROUS PLANT TRAPS

The escape of some insects from the traps of carnivorous plants depends on the type of trap and the body size of the insect species. Body size thresholds vary: for "sticky traps" of Pinguicula lutea Walt. and Drosera filiformis Raf. tracyi MacFarlane, they are 5 mm and 10 mm, respectively. In contrast, the "pitfall trap" of Sarracenia leucophylla Raf. retains almost all sizes of insects captured. Differential escape may have provided strong selection pressures for the evolution of large carnivorous plant species, which can trap insect prey of a wide range of sizes.