Post by shartmeyer on Jan 8, 2016 13:45:02 GMT
Our experiments suggest that the yellow emergences of Drosera hartmeyerorum act like a residual light amplifier, comparable to the eyes of crocodiles or cats when illuminated with a torch at night. The film provides our experiments with different light sources like halogen and red laser.
CAUTION: Laser beams are dangerous. Protect your eyes when you conduct such tests, especially when you observe the laser through a magnifier.
Meanwhile I received on YouTube, Facebook and by e-mail the same question: What benefit has the plant from these emergences ? Well, the incident sunlight is white and the reflected light is (flickering due to movement in the wind) bright yellow. That is very attractive to insects, especially on a strong contrasting dark red background, which appears black to insects. Yellow flypapers are very effective and often used to trap flying pests in nurseries and on fruit trees. The dark red background appears black to insects because their visual ability is shifted to the short-waved range of the spectrum. They don't see red, but they are able to see UV patterns. Regarding these facts, the emergences, which developed from simple sticky tentacles, are perfectly designed to lure prey into the sticky plant center.
CAUTION: Laser beams are dangerous. Protect your eyes when you conduct such tests, especially when you observe the laser through a magnifier.
Meanwhile I received on YouTube, Facebook and by e-mail the same question: What benefit has the plant from these emergences ? Well, the incident sunlight is white and the reflected light is (flickering due to movement in the wind) bright yellow. That is very attractive to insects, especially on a strong contrasting dark red background, which appears black to insects. Yellow flypapers are very effective and often used to trap flying pests in nurseries and on fruit trees. The dark red background appears black to insects because their visual ability is shifted to the short-waved range of the spectrum. They don't see red, but they are able to see UV patterns. Regarding these facts, the emergences, which developed from simple sticky tentacles, are perfectly designed to lure prey into the sticky plant center.
