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Guided walks:

Natural Control Systems (with Gall Rust)
Working with Weevils
Collaborative arrangements (with Cyanobacteria)
Early Encounters
Coming to a sticky end in a sundew
Playing tricks on insects
Part of the food chain

Coming to a sticky end

Moth caught in Leafy Sundew (Drosera stolonifera)

This family of plants has developed a remarkable relationship with insects that enables it to survive in the poor sandy soils of Perth¹s coastal plain.

Sundews produce a sticky enzyme that traps many insects that land on its leaves.

Not all insects get caught. Some Capsid bugs (such as Cyrtopeltis droserae, and Cyrtopeltis russelli) have learnt to raid this source of food, and eat the trapped insects. They excrete their faeces onto the surface of the leaves, and these faeces provide nutrition for the plant.