Utricularia notes

The greater bladderwort has a yellow flower that is above the water's surface that puts off a sweet nectar smell and attracts insects that help pollinate. The "root" system of the greater bladderwort has multi-layered stems that spread out and contain tiny bladders that look like small lima beans. Before botanists figured out what they were, the tiny bladders were thought to be floats. Most of the greater bladderwort sits near the bottom of the ponds, marshes or slow moving streams. When the plant is ready to flower it then floats to the top but the root system and bladders are still below the surface.Food Types: There are many examples of what the greater bladderwort dines on. Of course the bladders are limited by their size, but there are examples in captivity and in nature where the bladders contain small fish that are half in and half out of the bladder. “prey”include:
Mosquito larvae
Water fleas
Newborn tadpoles & fish
Minute crustaceans
Insect Larvae
Worms & much more

Greater bladderworts may contain as many as 500 bladders on its floating or suspended "root" system that eat thousands of tiny organisms every day.

Final Lab observation: Friday November 14 2008
Observed U. macorhiza under dissecting microscope, noting that this plant continues to thrive although several other plant and a few animal species seem to have disappeared. Utriulcaria is not rooted, but seems to be free floating, with numerous croziers and bladders evident. No attempt has been noticed to break the surface or flower during this brief observation.
Especially notable is that the copepod Cyclops seems unaffected by the traps/bladders of Utricularia, and that both organisms naturally dine on mosquito larvae. Note previous reference to University of Florida study about the possible uses of Cyclops for mosquito control- is it possible also to use Utricularia as a tag-team partner in this effort? In temperate climates, Utricularia does not require winter dormancy, but overpopulation would be a foreseeable drawback in cultivating as a pesticide (it’s often considered one itself!)