Carnivorous plants can be found all over the world and are some of the more unique facets of nature.A carnivorous plant usually preys on insects. These carnivorous plants use a range of different tools to attract, trap, and consume an insect.It is easy to look at a carnivorous plant like the Venus flytrap in a mix of wonder and fear. It is after all a plant species that eats insects. Fear not because while carnivorous plants do eat insects and other smaller animals such as frogs or rodents, they are not harmful to humans. In fact, human touch might hasten the end of their lives. The leaves of this plant can only shut so many times before dying.This is something we should remember about a carnivorous plant. A plant species which is carnivorous only traps small insects it needs to gain necessary mineral nutrients, those it cannot get from its surroundings. These plants are not harmful to you or your family in case you decide to go to a plant nursery and buy a Venus flytrap or a pitcher plant. They would look nice in your home, with their brightly colored flowers and leaves. If you live in an area that has a lot of insects such as mosquitos, it seems sensible and beneficial to get a carnivorous plant. It becomes a mutually beneficial relationship because your house has fewer mosquitos. The easiest carnivorous plant to maintain if you are a budding carnivorous plant owner is the Cape sundew. It is beautiful to look at, and attracts and consumes insects very well. However, if you are seeking the most effective plant to deal with an insect problem, the Venus flytrap should be your go to plant.If you enjoy reading articles such as this one about how do carnivorous plants digest insects, why not check out what do plants need to survive and are trees plants on Kidadl?International Carnivorous Plant SocietyCarnivorous plants are a large part of the fauna that is found in the world. With changing times, a group of people came together to share their common interest of plants, specifically carnivorous plants.They were the first members of the growing community that would eventually become the International Carnivorous Plant Society. The International Carnivorous Plant Society was first established back in 1972. It is a collective of horticulturists who aim to guide any beginners who are looking after this plant species, as well as share their own techniques among other experts. Their work is not only limited to this, but includes conservationists who work to preserving carnivorous plant life.This is a growing concern, one that needs to be addressed not only by the International Carnivorous Plant Society, but by everyone in the world. These plants are contributors to ecosystems all over forests around the world, and a decline in their numbers could cause serious problems for the environment. This is why the Society does not only have amateur plant owners, but scientists as well. These scientists work to come up with sustainable ways of growing carnivorous plants and spreading the message of protecting them.Apart from this, the International Carnivorous Plant Society also runs a monthly newsletter based on a subscription system. This newsletter contains different and interesting carnivorous plant related facts and events. If you are looking to take up a fun family activity, why not take up planting and taking care of a carnivorous plant. Everything you need to know can be found inside the newsletter, and you are able to enjoy an experience that brings you closer together as a family.How carnivorous plants avoid eating their pollinating insect friends?The carnivorous plant is one of the largest meat consuming organisms in the world, but like other plants, this plant reproduces through pollination. Now you must be wondering, how do they distinguish between a pollinator and prey? Continue reading to find out!Carnivorous plants are clever enough to use different parts of their structure to attract different organisms. To attract pollinators, they use flowers that are much higher up, or located out of the range of their traps. For example, the flowers on a Venus flytrap are much higher than their snapping jaws. This attracts pollinating insects that are used to reproduce.It does not mean that a pollinating insect will always be safe from being trapped by a carnivorous plant. These carnivorous plants will consume whatever they are able to trap, since they already exist in areas where mineral nutrition is lower, which is why they must consume insects and absorb minerals from them. However, it is in their evolutionary interest to not consume any insect that is a friend, a pollinator.The pollinator may or may not know that the plant is a threat. All it sees is the attractive flower and the nectar within the flower. If it strays too close to the traps set by these plants, it may be eaten. However, these plants set traps to attract prey insect, not pollinators, since its a mutually beneficial relationship. The plant is able to reproduce and the insect gains nectar and pollen. Carnivorous plants are as vicious as a lion stalking a gazelle. The way this plant sets up its traps to capture and consume prey is the mark of a cold, calculating predator of the plant world.Trap Types And DigestionTo capture and consume its prey, these carnivorous plants have several adaptations.The trap in itself is a form of a modified leaf that is used to attract prey insects. These modified leaves come in different structures. A popular one is the Venus flytrap that features snap traps, that ambush prey as soon as they touch the leaf surface. Venus flytraps then have the leaf turn into a sealed trap for their prey. One of the most common form of traps that are seen among carnivorous plants are pitfall traps, known as a pitcher plant.Plants that belong to the nepenthes species usually employ this method. A highly modified leaf is has a long bucket-like structure. This usually contains digestive fluids that the prey insect goes into. This digestive fluid is then used to extract nutriments that the pitcher plant needs. Through these pitfall traps, pitcher plants and other members of this species of carnivorous plants are able to stay healthy. The pitcher fluids are essential for these plants to gain nutrients from their food.The other types of traps that are employed are a form of corkscrew trap. As the name implies, corkscrew plants use hairs to guide the prey in. It is interesting to know that the waterwheel plant is one of the only carnivorous plants to exist in water. The waterwheel plant has evolved its own form of a snap trap underwater. The digestion that takes place differs among different categories of these plants.Carnivorous plants use digestive enzymes to break down the food. The digestive enzymes operate similarly to how animals digest their food. Digestion takes place as the digestive glands secrete digestive fluid. This largely occurs with most pitcher plants, sundews, and butterworts. For plants that do not have specialized glands to secrete digestive juices and in turn do not have digestive enzymes, a more traditional method is used. These species rely on bacteria to take the place of enzymes in their digestion. The prey rots, and the plant then absorbs the nutrients from the decomposing molecules of the prey.How Venus flytrap triggers digestion?The Venus flytrap is one of the most common carnivorous plants. It is safe to say that it is more popular due to its snapping trap over the pitcher plant’s modified tube-leaf. How does this species trigger digestion to extract nutrients from the prey in its trap?The Venus flytrap possesses a unique sealed trap, that uses leaves that snap shut and traps prey. It snaps shut when an insect makes contact with the leaf surface. Once contact is made, these insects inadvertently trigger hairs that snap the leaves of the plant shut. In addition to this, gland cells are lined along the inner surface of the leaf. These gland cells then secrete lactic enzymes once the leaves are shut. This plant species gains the essential nutrients it needs.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for how do carnivorous plants digest insects then why not take a look at facts about non-vascular plants or facts about flowering plants.
Carnivorous plants can be found all over the world and are some of the more unique facets of nature.
