Where is My Mutualism Partner - Nature Never Ceases To Amaze You

Imagine that you go through a swampy area, you discover a lush plant with a kind of elongated conical flowers and, when you approach them, you discover a bat inside. If among your screams of terror someone tells you that, moreover, it is a carnivorous plant, you may think that you are in a horror movie scene more typical of the Holliwood writers.

The scene could be more or less real, and would take place in Borneo. In some of its wetlands there are not many caves, nor the mainland, since most of the land is swampy. The vegetation is dense, and there are not a few predators and insects. In the midst of all that, the bats flutter at sundown, devouring as many insects as they can.

Actually the combination 'carnivorous plant' and 'bat', and very much in spite of the cinema, should not disturb us: it is insectivorous species, of which nothing we should fear unless we are Gregor Samsa. In fact, knowing their relationship, the story that seemed terrifying ends up being pretty.

The protagonist is called 'Nepenthes hemsleyana', and is a carnivorous plant a little clumsy: hunting insects, which should be his main dedication, he is not very good at it. In fact, it neither emits striking odors, nor has bright colors, nor does it release hormones or adopt deceptive aspects to hunt. Their 'mouths' are those giant flowers that have a fairly large entrance slot and digestive fluid in the background.

This plant has congeners that are better at hunting: their digestive liquid does attract insects and, in addition, the way in which they reflect solar radiation makes them much more effective when it comes to taking insects to the mouth. So, why does the first survive?

Instead of adjusting to the needs of the insects to feed on them, the 'Nepenthes hemsleyana' has preferred to adapt to those of the bats. The surface of its flowers is a good reflective of the sound, which makes the sonars of these winged animals help them to find them. In addition, they fit perfectly within their flowers, hiding them from potential enemies and giving them a pleasant abode in which to spend the day, instead of seeking refuge in the swamps.

What does the plant get in return? Two things: pollinate their peers by exchanging bats and (even more importantly) feeding. The shape of its flowers means that bats do not come into contact with the gastric fluid at the bottom, but until it reaches the excrement ... and feed on them. In fact, according to recent research published in 'Current biology', a third of the nitrogen contribution of these plants comes from their guests.

Sometimes the housing solutions work, even for some who are looking for a bachelor flat in the tropical paradise and do not mind getting into the jaws of a carnivorous plant.

EDIT: Also small mice
they come to defecate inside the plant