Unlikely Allies 2: carnivorous plants and bats

Since I happened to stumble upon an article about incredible allies (which I described in the post), I went to investigate it a little deeper, and I came across a few more symbioses that really surprised me. Although birds that clean teeth to crocodiles or fish that swim around sharks are also interesting, for me a truly fascinating: a mutualistic relationship between bats and carnivorous plants.
Most carnivorous plants generally do well on trapping insects for digestion in nutrient-poor soils; here, they are involved in a mutualistic relationship with bats, which are far larger and quite out of their league, so to say.

How It Works?
In Southeast Asia, certain species of pitcher plants, such as Nepenthes hemsleyana, have evolved to attract bats instead of relying solely on insects (or eating bats). These plants offer a shelter for bats to rest during the day. In return, the bats leave behind their droppings, which is rich source of nutrients for the plants.
Unlike other pitcher plants with broad, insect-trapping surfaces, these plants have developed narrower, more bat-friendly structures. They even produce acoustic signals that guide bats to their “rest stops,”, something like a runway with radar guidance.

Picture from science direct: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982215006570

Why This Alliance Is Surprising
The relationship between bats and carnivorous plants challenges the typical predator-prey dynamic. You’d think a carnivorous plant might trap any creature small enough to fall into its pit (and some bats are small enough), but instead, these plants welcome bats with open pitchers.

The relationship is mutually beneficial for the bats. Tropical jungles can be highly competitive environmen, and safe dry roosting sites may be hard to come by. In return for their services, the bats have a safe place from predators and other environmental hazards by associating with pitcher plants.

(Image credit: © Manuel Sánchez)

We can all learn some lessons from Nature
This unlikely alliance is a testament to nature’s ingenuity. It’s amazing how species that seem completely mismatched can find ways to benefit from each other. It also shows that survival isn’t just about competition—it’s often about cooperation.
When I came across the spiders and frog alliance I was amazed, but now I see that there is much more than to expect. I couldn’t help but marvel at how ecosystems are working together in ways I'm just beginning to understand, althougth, probably. this is not something new for someone...