Why do Venus Flytraps trap insects?
Phenomenon Description: The Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) has specialized leaves that snap shut to capture and digest insects, which the plant uses for nutrients.
Location: Found in the subtropical wetlands of NC and SC, Carolina Beach State Park, Wilmington, NC
Grade Level or Course: Grade 6
Question: If Venus flytraps photosynthesize like other plants, why have they also evolved to get nutrients by trapping and digesting insects?
Crosscutting Concepts: Structure and Function
Science Domain: Life Science
NC Standard: LS.6.1 Understand the structures, processes, and behaviors of plants that enable them to survive and reproduce.
NC Objective: LS.6.1.1 Use models to explain how the processes of photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration work together to meet the needs of plants.
Additional Resources:
The Venus Flytrap: A North Carolina Native: NC Cooperative Extension
https://homegrown.extension.ncsu.edu/2022/09/02/the-venus-flytrap-a-north-carolina-native/
Photo by J. Randall.