The Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant found in damp soil in certain areas. It traps insects to obtain nutrients not available in the soil. The leaves have trigger hairs that cause the trap to snap shut when touched, sealing the insect inside where digestive juices dissolve the soft tissues over 5-12 days to provide nutrients for the plant.

1. Venus Fly Trap

2. While the Venus Flytrap is carnivorous, it isn't
dangerous to humans and will not bite your
finger.
The Venus Flytrap is a plant that does not
make its own food, but rather feeds on insects.

3. Venus Flytrap plants are
found in areas with
very damp soil that
typically doesn't
provide the nutrients
needed for it to
survive. Insects provide
the missing nutrients.

4. How It Works
When anything touches these hairs, the two
lobes of the leaves will snap shut in less
than a second, trapping whatever is inside.
The leaves of Venus'
Flytrap open wide
and on them are
short, stiff hairs
called “trigger” or
“sensitive hairs”.
It lures its
victim with
sweet-
smelling
nectar.

5. If an insect is too
large, it will stick
out of the trap.
This allows
bacteria and
molds to grow
on the insect.
Eventually the
trap turns black,
rots and falls off.
If the object isn't
food, e.g., a
stone or a nut,
the trap will
reopen in about
twelve hours
and 'spit' it out.

6. It dissolves the soft, inner
parts of the insect, but
not the tough, outer part
(exoskeleton).
The trap
compresses tightly
around the insect
and secretes
digestive juices,
much like those in
your stomach, and
an antiseptic juice.
This juice purifies
and keeps the
insect from
decaying over the
few days it is in the
trap.

7. At the end of the
digestive
process, which
takes from five to
twelve days, the
trap reabsorbs
the digestive
fluid and then
reopens.
The leftover parts
of the insect, the
exoskeleton, are
blown away by the
wind or washed
away by rain.