Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 5/22/2010

Question
QUESTION: hi my pitcher plant is still small but it kinda looks like a hooded pitcher but I'm not sure. the problem is that I've found little holes in my pitchers,the holes are where the tube goes down. i was wondering if this is natural or if its an animal eating it. the holes are small not big.

ANSWER: Hi Miguel,

Yellow jackets will sometimes chew holes in the pitcher as an attempt to escape.  Sometimes they can chew a hole large enough to fit through.  Most time, however, the hole isn't large enough for them to escape.  If you have a photo of the plant, I can properly identify the issue, but for the most part, it's likely a yellow jacket trying to escape.  This doesn't at all pose a problem for the plant.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: this is my pitcher plant its way to small for a yellow jacket.

Answer
Thank you for the photo.  Holes by yellow jackets can be that small, however they often appear on the pitcher itself and not the wing of the pitcher.  This is probably done by another type of pest. Since it's only on one leaf and the other leaves are not affected, you don't have anything to worry about.  Just monitor your plant.  

Jacob