Plants Eating Animals
Ranked #3,284 in Education, #79,482 overall
Do carnivorous plants really exist?
Plants eating animals? Did you just read that correctly? Yes! There really are carnivorous plants that eat small animals. We aren't talking about massive people-eating plants, but some plants do eat small bugs and insects. By definition, this classifies these bug-eating plants as carnivores.
Calling a plant a carnivore may stir up the people who aren't quite clear on what you are referring to, and we don't want to cause misconceptions, so plants that eat bugs and insects are called insectivorous plants. However, we can still have fun and call them carnivorous plants! Many people are familiar with the Venus flytrap, but are there more like it? Lets find out.
Photo Credit: Indiana University
Calling a plant a carnivore may stir up the people who aren't quite clear on what you are referring to, and we don't want to cause misconceptions, so plants that eat bugs and insects are called insectivorous plants. However, we can still have fun and call them carnivorous plants! Many people are familiar with the Venus flytrap, but are there more like it? Lets find out.
Photo Credit: Indiana University
Contents at a Glance
The Venus Fly Trap
The Venus flytrap has two "flaps" that open up similar to a clam. When the trigger system of the plant is set off by the touch of a bug, the two flaps slam shut to capture its prey! The unfortunate victims of the Venus flytrap include everything from flies, mosquitoes, crickets, spiders, and many other insects that can be found crawling around the local terrain.
The shape and appearance of this plant matches its reputation: the flaps even look like a mouth with "teeth!"
Venus Flytrap Seeds
Grow your own Venus flytrap!
Would you ever own a predatory plant?
Loading poll. Please Wait...
Venus Flytrap Eats a Frog!
The second clip of the video below shows a Venus flytrap eating a frog.
curated content from YouTube
Do you think it is cool that these plants can eat animals?
Loading poll. Please Wait...
The Sundew Plant
The sticky gel-like substance on the tips of the Sundew plant's tentacles capture flies or other insects, and as they struggle to escape, they brush up against the surrounding sticky tips which further "glue" them down.
The leaves of this predatory plant wrap around the insect and secrete enzymes that digest the critter and allow the plant to then consume the animal's nutrients. The process of digesting the insect may take as long as one or two days. The remains of the insect's exoskeleton eventually brush off in the wind.
The sticky substance is also where the Sundew plant receives its name from; the sticky substance appears to be dew when it shines in the sun.
Sundew Plants
The Sundew Plant Eating A Bug
Watch this video of a Sundew plant trapping a bug with its sticky tentacles before wrapping it up and secreting digestive enzymes to consume the unfortunate insect.
curated content from YouTube
The Pitcher Plant
Inside the "pitcher" there is a pool of water with "sticky stuff" that will affect the wings of a fly. The fly will land inside the hollow water-filled pitcher and lose its ability to fly and as a result may drown in the water. The inside walls of the pitcher also contain hairs that point downward into the bottom of the pit in order to make it difficult for the trapped insect to crawl out.
The pitcher plant also acts as a host for small critters that help with the decomposition of the dead fly which provides nutrients to the plant.
Pitcher Plant Seeds
Grow your own Pitcher plant!
The Butterwort Plant
The leaves of the Butterwort plant grow close to the ground and have glands that give off a strong odor to attract insects to the plant, such as flies and aphids. Once the unlucky insect lands on the leaves, it gets stuck in the sticky substance and any further struggling just causes more trouble for the insect.
After the insect becomes stuck on the plant, the glands of the plant will secrete enzymes that digest the insect and allow the plant to absorb the nutrients.
Books About Carnivorous Plants
The Bladderwort Plant
Bladderworts do not have roots, in fact, they actually float freely at the surface of the water. The "bladders" float just beneath the surface of the water while a stem containing a bright yellow flower (most species) extends up and out of the water. These predatory plants can grow up to several feet long.
When an insect touches the bladder, it opens up and acts like a trap door as it quickly shuts after allowing the insect to enter. The insect is then digested by the insectivorous plant.
Bladderworts get their name from these bladders that they use to trap and digest small animals such as aquatic insects.
Which is your favorite carnivorous plant?
Loading poll. Please Wait...
Why do these plants eat animals?
What is the deal with plants eating animals? Why can't they just utilize photosynthesis like all of the other normal plants?They do.
Photosynthesis is only half of the equation. Photosynthesis provides the plant with energy, but they also need nutrients.
It is believed that carnivorous plants, or insectivorous plants, evolved in nutrient poor soils. A plant living in nurient poor substrate would not survive unless they had some sort of adaptation to that environment. As a result, carnivorous plants were born!
Carnivorous plants growing in areas of nutrient poor soils must get their nutrients (particularly nitrogen) by the digestion of other animals. That is why these plants have evolved the art of tricking, trapping, and digesting all sorts of different bugs and small critters; if the nutrients aren't in the soil then they have to get the nutrients from something else, and in this case its animals.
Origin of Predatory Plants:
It is believed that predatory plants evolved over time due to the lack of nutrients available in the soil of their habitats.
What do you think about plants eating animals?
-
-
mrducksmrnot
Oct 5, 2011 @ 8:13 pm | delete
- Great lens about Nature doing what Nature does.
-
-
-
smithlights
Oct 2, 2011 @ 1:58 am | delete
- Another wonderful lens!
-
-
-
kitty222
Sep 29, 2011 @ 11:45 pm | delete
- This is neat! It would be handy to have a few of these around the house because we seem to attract a swarm of flies every summer.
-
-
-
SheWritesaLot
Sep 24, 2011 @ 9:11 am | delete
- Cool Lens! I'm going to send the link to my daughter. My grandsons have a Venus Fly Trap and they've been bugging her about getting more plants that eat bugs LOL They'll love this!
-
-
-
DinosaurEgg
Sep 23, 2011 @ 3:44 pm | delete
- Yesterday my four year old told me that he had learned about the Venus Fly Trap and could we go on the computer and find out more about carnivore plants. You have made my job very easy!
-
-
-
BrassFittings
Sep 20, 2011 @ 4:34 pm | delete
- great lens - nice layout.
-
-
-
DrSpuddinky
Sep 18, 2011 @ 10:14 am | delete
- Nice lens - my son has always wanted a Venus Flytrap, maybe I'll get him one after he has read this!
-
-
-
Writingnag
Sep 17, 2011 @ 7:32 am | delete
- Interesting lens! A lot of good information well laid out.
-
-
-
StudioElysee
Sep 16, 2011 @ 9:04 pm | delete
- Oh- - and, just curious- - does that pitcher plant eat roaches (aka palmetto bugs- - the big outdoor insects that fly and that will come in your house no matter how clean- - they are not palmetto bugs, they are roaches)?! I am in south Louisiana, and if it does, I would especially love one!!
-
-
-
StudioElysee
Sep 16, 2011 @ 9:00 pm | delete
- Very interesting. Love this lens. I had heard of the first two plants you mention, but not the others. Had not heard about nutrient poor soil as a reason for carnivorous plants, either. Very nicely done and educational!
-
- Load More
by ThomasJ4
I am a scientist who enjoys educating the public about important issues and informing individuals about opportunities to take action and make a difference.... more »
- 59 featured lenses
- Winner of 25 trophies!
- Top lens » Jeremy Wade River Monsters
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
