this is probably a repost since i always seem to be too late...http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/21459520
Wow this is amazing! I can't wait to get a gracilis and shine a blacklight on it!
I don't think any of these plants are fluorescing though, I think they are just being illuminated by the black light. Expanding on what good said above me, the idea that plants, flowers, etc "fluoresce" when exposed to UV light is not a new concept. This is just the first time they've done it on CP's from what I can tell. We learned about this extensively in my entymology class when learning about pollinator attraction to flowers. Many insects do not see much of the visible light spectrum but are able to see UV light if I recall correctly. Hence, as the insect flies it sees this "glowing" plant and is like hey that looks like a good place to look for food/pollen/whatever and then falls into the trap. As for the fact that the plants seem to glow under blacklights... I think that is more of the same kind of reaction you see when you put fluorescent paint under a black light not what the article is referring to. These are just my opinions and interpretation of the article though and I could be completely wrong. Please someone write up a paper and prove me wrong cause glowing CP's would be pretty awesome
I don't think any of these plants are fluorescing though, I think they are just being illuminated by the black light. Expanding on what good said above me, the idea that plants, flowers, etc "fluoresce" when exposed to UV light is not a new concept. This is just the first time they've done it on CP's from what I can tell. We learned about this extensively in my entymology class when learning about pollinator attraction to flowers. Many insects do not see much of the visible light spectrum but are able to see UV light if I recall correctly. Hence, as the insect flies it sees this "glowing" plant and is like hey that looks like a good place to look for food/pollen/whatever and then falls into the trap. As for the fact that the plants seem to glow under blacklights... I think that is more of the same kind of reaction you see when you put fluorescent paint under a black light not what the article is referring to. These are just my opinions and interpretation of the article though and I could be completely wrong. Please someone write up a paper and prove me wrong cause glowing CP's would be pretty awesome