India's rich floral diversity includes unique insectivorous plants from the families Droseraceae, Lentibulariaceae and Nepenthaceae. The genus Drosera, known as sundews, stands out for its medicinal properties and role as an insect predator. This study focuses on Drosera peltata Thunb in the Western Ghats and explores the relationship between the plant's morphological features and its ability to attract and capture insects. The research involved observing 320 Drosera peltata specimens to assess plant height, tentacle number, and the corresponding insect capture rate and found a positive correlation between plant height, tentacle number, and insect attraction, with the number of tentacles having a more significant influence. Regression analysis confirmed that both factors significantly contribute to the plant's ability to attract prey. The study also reveals that small flies like Keroplatidae, Mycetophilidae, and Sciaridae positively affect plant health, while larger insects like Dolichopodidae and Tipulidae show no significant impact. Anthomyiidae and Tachinidae exhibited strong positive correlations with plant growth, suggesting their vulnerability to Drosera's trapping mechanisms. These findings underscore the importance of species-specific ecological interactions, the adaptive strategies of carnivorous plants in nutrient-poor environments, and the ecological role of D. peltata Thunb in controlling insect populations and maintaining ecosystem balance.
Rishi et al. (2025) studied this question.