This Is My Primitive Tribe - Chapter 33

Chapter 33: Insect-Eating Plant

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The bonfire burned for three nights in a row. Almost all the light-seeking insects near the Vine Tribe were burned.

With the efforts of humans and various frogs, most of the wingless insects were eliminated.

The insect disaster gradually subsided, and the crops in the ground were safe and continued to grow.

However, Jiang Xuan knew very well that relying on the bonfire to eliminate the insects was only a temporary measure. If he wanted to eliminate the insects for a long time, he had to think of another way.

Using pesticides was too complicated. Jiang Xuan could not produce it and had to give up on this method.

He thought about it but could not think of a good solution.

Then one day he found a dozen very special plants in a bush in the open field.

They were grass that looked like purplish-red gourds. They were about half a meter tall. The abdomen contained a liquid, but the openings at the top were very narrow. The outer skin and leaves were smooth and tough.

When he got closer, he could clearly smell the sweet fragrance of the grass which attracted many insects to hover around.

“Poof!”

When a bug flew over it, the plant’s abdomen suddenly contracted. The powerful pressure instantly sprayed the liquid out of the plant’s abdomen. After passing through the small opening at the top, the liquid shot very high and hit the bug.

The liquid was very viscous. When a flying insect was sprayed, its wings got stuck and could no longer flap. After struggling a few times, it fell to the ground.

The flying insect struggled on the ground a few more times. Then countless roots appeared on the ground and wrapped around the flying insect. They bound the insect tighter and tighter until it could no longer move.

This flying insect would soon become nourishment for these magical plants and make them grow better.

Jiang Xuan carefully watched the process of the plant catching the insects. He said in surprise, “What plant is this? It’s so good at catching insects!”

Jiang Xuan observed for a while, then dug up a stalk and brought it back to ask Chi Shao.

“This is called Water Arrow Grass.”

Chi Shao held the plant and looked at it briefly. She knew what it was.

Chi Shao pointed to the plant’s abdomen. “When this grass encounters insects, the stomach contracts and sprays water. It shoots the insects down like arrows. That’s why we call it water arrow grass.

Where did you find it?”

Jiang Xuan replied, “In the uncultivated wasteland, there were more than 10 of them. When I went over, I happened to see it shooting down an insect, so I dug it up.”

Chi Shao gave the water arrow grass back to Jiang Xuan. “The water arrow grass is good stuff. Dig out the root and dry it before grinding it into powder. It can treat wounds.”

“So it’s an herb.” Jiang Xuan was surprised by this magical grass.

“A lot of plants are herbs. Get to know them better. They can save your life at critical moments.

This was what the hunting party told me.”

The expression on Chi Shao’s face darkened. She was clearly thinking about the Deer Tribe that had been destroyed.

Jiang Xuan patted Chi Shao’s shoulder with an encouraging gaze.

“I’m fine.”

Chi Shao smiled at him, her eyes hardening again.

She was very good at adjusting her emotions and rarely revealed her fragile side in front of others.

“I plan to plant a row of water arrow grass in the middle of each vegetable field.”

Jiang Xuan said, “I’ve thought about it carefully over the past few days. If we want to have a good harvest, exterminating insects is something that must be done.

One way to get rid of bugs is to dig more ponds. A lot of frogs gather around the ponds. They eat a lot of bugs.

The other method is to plant all kinds of plants in the ground that can actively capture insects like water arrow grass.

With these plants, as long as the insects get close to the ground, they will be attracted to them and eat them. Our crops will grow safely.

In addition to eating insects, these plants can also be used as medicine. When needed, I can directly collect them. It’s killing two birds with one stone.

Chi Shao’s eyes lit up when she heard Jiang Xuan’s words.

Jiang Xuan’s plan sounded good and feasible.

The plants that ate insects usually emitted a very strong fragrance to lure insects. It was much more attractive than the crops in the field.

Using these plants to deal with the insects could perfectly solve the problem of the insects eating the crops.

“Sister, can you take me to these insect-eating plants?”

“Of course. There are many such plants in the forest. It’s just that we usually hunt and don’t specially look for them.

Alright, then let’s go into the mountain tomorrow and get Stone Loach to join us. We’ll dig up some insect-eating plants and plant them together.”

After Jiang Xuan and Chi Shao discussed the matter of entering the mountain tomorrow, they planted the Water Arrow Grass that had become ragged because it had been dug up in an empty space in front of the bamboo house.

The night passed uneventfully.

The next morning, Jiang Xuan, Chi Shao, and Stone Loach brought their tools and entered the boundless forest.

The forest in summer was very lively. All kinds of plants grew crazily in the forest, and all kinds of animals were very active.

“Coo, coo, coo…”

A big bird ran away quickly after meeting someone.

This was a flightless bird. Because its feathers were covered in large red stripes, the tribesmen called it the red-spotted bird.

The red-spotted bird’s wings were small, but its legs were thick. It ran very quickly and moved through the forest as if it were flying.

“Red-spotted birds are very suitable for farming. If the crops planted by the tribe are harvested and there are leftovers, rearing red-spotted birds would be a good choice,” Jiang Xuan said.

The red-spotted bird that ran away did not know that it had already been targeted by Jiang Xuan.

Chi Shao and Stone Loach looked at the red-spotted bird a few more times. Although they did not know much about domesticating animals, they were intrigued.

Compared to farming, the tribesmen preferred to deal with wild beasts and birds.

The three of them continued forward. Chi Shao specially walked towards a lower and wet place.

As Chi Shao walked, she explained to Jiang Xuan, “The wetter the place, the more insects there are. There are also more plants that eat insects.”

Jiang Xuan nodded. He knew that many flying insects’ larvae grew in the water. As they grew, they would climb ashore, turn into cocoons, and grow wings.

After walking for a long time, the three of them arrived at a shallow wild pond.

Chi Shao’s eyes searched the vicinity for a moment, then settled on a plant.

“Found it. Bamboo Tube Grass.”

Jiang Xuan followed her gaze and saw a strange plant. There were about 20 to 30 plants growing together.

This plant was very peculiar. It grew straight and had a leaf at each section. These leaves were curled and bamboo-shaped.

When the wind blew, the plants swayed with it. The bamboo tube-shaped leaves occasionally collided and made a very faint sound.

“No wonder it’s called bamboo tube grass.”

Jiang Xuan was enlightened. This name was really apt.

Jiang Xuan asked curiously, “Can this bamboo tube grass catch insects?”

“Yes!” Chi Shao pointed to one of the bamboo tube grass. “Look.”

Jiang Xuan looked at the bamboo tube grass and saw a flying insect circling above it.

“Buzz, buzz, buzz…”

The flying insect gradually approached the grass and flew into the ‘tube’, greedily absorbing the sweet nectar secreted on the inner wall.

“Pop!”

Suddenly, a lid appeared on the ‘tube’ and trapped the flying insect inside. When the flying insect wanted to escape, it was too late.

It turned out that there was still a leaf on the upper half of the tube-shaped leaf of the bamboo grass. It was usually stuck tightly to the ‘tube’. If one did not look carefully, one would not be able to tell.

When a bug was attracted by the sweet nectar and entered the bamboo tube, the leaf would quickly close like a tightly closed lid and trap the worm inside.

Not only that, but the leaves of the bamboo tube grass would continue to roll inward until the bug was completely trapped. Then, through the secreted juice, the worm would slowly corrode and dissolve, finally becoming nourishment for the bamboo tube grass.

“Amazing bamboo tube grass!”

Jiang Xuan witnessed the bamboo tube grass hunting insects with his own eyes and felt that it was an eye-opener.

At the same time, he decided to take this bamboo tube grass back. Like the water arrow grass, he would plant it in the cultivated land to catch insects and protect the crops.