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Seedling catching prey?

Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2022 12:45 am
by Bluefire
Noticed some tiny dark dots inside a pitcher of this Nepenthes burbidgeae seedling. They aren't outside or part of the pitcher, as they can't be brushed off and the pitcher has a consistent texture (no lesions). Which means whatever it is is likely stuck within the pitcher. Is it dirt inside the trap, or could it be that this tiny seedling is catching its own prey?

Re: Seedling catching prey?

Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2022 1:16 am
by ChefDean
Looks like just pigmented spots on the pitcher.

Re: Seedling catching prey?

Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2022 1:29 am
by Bluefire
It's hard to see, but there's some tiny, black colored spots underneath the red ones. Looking from various angles, they appear to be inside but that's hard to catch on a phone camera.

Re: Seedling catching prey?

Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2022 12:59 pm
by ChefDean
Yes, those are what I'm referring to. It's possible, but I don't think they are.
From the angle, it's hard to tell if the lid is open, but where the black spots are is generally above the level of where the liquid is unless you've added water.
Is the lid open? If no, then they're not likely bugs. If yes, then scroll down.
Best way to answer your question would be to look again the best day, referring to the pic as a baseline. Have the black spots moved? If not, gently tap the pitcher see if they jiggle as if they were on top of, or in, some sort of liquid. If they still haven't moved/don't move, spots of pigment in the pitcher.
If they have moved, or do move when gently tapped, then I'm wrong, and something is in there.

Re: Seedling catching prey?

Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2022 2:18 pm
by Bluefire
The lid is open. Some of the spots appear to be suspended in the pitcher fluid, floating just on top. Others appear stuck to the inner wall in little droplets (maybe thanks to humidity?)

Re: Seedling catching prey?

Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2022 5:04 pm
by ChefDean
Then something is likely in there, cool.

Re: Seedling catching prey?

Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2022 6:17 pm
by Bluefire
Wonder what it could be...