Brocchinia reducta

B. reducta, like many other bromeliads, forms a water-storing cup with its tightly-overlapping leaves. The leaves surrounding the cup of B. reducta are coated with loose, waxy scales. These scales are highly reflective of ultraviolet light. Since many insects are attracted to ultraviolet (since it is reflected also by many flowers), this proves a highly efficient lure.

The scales, being loose, prove a poor foothold for insects landing on them, and the insects usually slip into the water-filled cup and drown.

B. reducta, however, does not produce pepsin or any other digestive enzymes, as do most other carnivorous plants. One needs only see how filled with insects a B. reducta cup is, compared to other bromeliads, and there is no doubt that insect-eating is exactly what it was designed to do.