The carnivorous Cape Sundew plant eating a fruit fly over 6 hours
The carnivorous Cape Sundew plant eating a fruit fly over 6 hours
The Cape Sundew is a small carnivorous species of sundew native to the Cape in South Africa.
The plant secretes a sticky substance that then captures its prey by luring it through the dazzling digestive secretions produced on the tentacles of the leaves.
The secretion acts as a visual signal, as it shines in the sun and through the red tentacle tip, and is also a chemical attractant that attracts insects.
Trapped insects are then wrapped and brought towards the centre where secreted enzymes digest the insect.