16th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Carnivorous sundew Drosera adelae caught a mayfly

The photo shows the carnivorous sundew Drosera adelae caught a mayfly, a group of aquatic insects. The sundew plant is endemic to Queensland, Australia and is one of the only three rainforest sundews in the world. Based on my observation over the last two years, the sundew plant mostly catches flies and beetles. In this very rare occasion, I found a mayfly is among the plant diet. To catch prey, the carnivorous sundews rely upon their glue-tentacles on the leaf surfaces.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 08.2018
Date Uploaded: 08.2018
Photo Location: Bemerside, Queensland, Australia, Australia
Camera: RICOH WG-4 GPS
Copyright: © Irwan Lovadi