Nepenthes Jacquelineae - Carnivory

Carnivory

Like most Nepenthes species, N. jacquelineae is primarily insectivorous, although it does occasionally catch other types of invertebrates. The pitcher fluid of N. jacquelineae is extremely viscous and coats the pitcher walls. It has been suggested that the pitchers of this species function not only as pitfall traps but also as flypaper traps, with the sticky inner walls trapping flying insects above the surface of the fluid. Indeed, this trapping method is employed by the closely related N. inermis, which also produces highly viscous pitcher fluid.

Aerial pitchers of N. jacquelineae are often filled with rainwater, which, together with the pitcher fluid, occupies two-thirds to three-quarters of the traps' volume. Conversely, the much wider lids of lower pitchers prevent rainwater from entering the pitchers and diluting the fluid. Most of the plant's prey die as a result of drowning in this fluid.

The peristome is often darker than the pitcher cup and it has been speculated that the pitchers of N. jacquelineae may act as light traps. The contrast between the dark peristome and lighter-coloured mouth may serve to attract flying insects. The pitchers of N. jacquelineae frequently catch large flying insects such as blattid cockroaches, bees, and moths. The wide peristome may function as a kind of landing platform for such prey.

The unusually large glands on the underside of the lid produce copious amounts of nectar and likely lure insects into a precarious position over the pitcher mouth.

The lower pitchers of this species are often embedded in thick Sphagnum moss, allowing them to trap small terrestrial animals such as snails.

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