Why does the Venus Flytrap trap flies?

Answer 1

The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) attracts insects onto its paired multicolor leaves, which then snap shut, trapping the insect in a "cage" between them.

Flies and insects are attracted to the Venus Flytrap's bright colours and scent. There are stiff "spikes" along the edges of the plant's leaves, which combine to form a barred cage when they rapidly fold together. This is triggered by tiny hairs in its trap: when a fly triggers two hairs in quick succession, the trap closes almost instantaneously. Unable to escape, the fly is slowly digested by enzymes in the leaves.

Trigger Mechanism

The cells along the top of the hinge (along the inside of the trap) can quickly 'deflate' when they receive the signal from any 2 of the 6 trigger hairs on the inside surface. The trigger hairs send a signal when they are bent over by any mechanical pressure such as a bug brushing against them. The mechanism for 'deflating' is rapid loss of turgor pressure by the opening of ion channels in the cell membrane of those cells on the top surface of the hinge allowing water to rush out.

It is likely that 2 hairs need to be bent to prevent false alarms from rain drops hitting the hairs. The margins of the traps are guarded by bristles that serve 2 functions: they keep bugs that are too big from entering the trap and they prevent escape of bugs that have triggered the trap during the brief period that it takes for the trap to close.

After the trap closes, continued struggling stimulates cell growth that causes the trap to close tighter--sometimes until the guard bristles point outward. This forms a very tight seal and preserves moisture and enzymes that digest the bug. The plant senses both mechanically and chemically if it has a living or nonliving thing in its trap. If it caught something worth eating, it will create an airtight seal, suffocate or drown the bug, and start digesting it. The plant absorbs the nitrogen compounds from the bug to make up for the nitrogen-poor bog soil where it grows.

Answer 2

Growing in areas with poor soil, the flytrap plant needs additional minerals (mostly compounds of nitrogen and phosphorus) which it obtains by digesting trapped insects.

The Venus flytrap has colorful paired leaves with a row of cilia (spikes) along the edges. When an insect lands or crawls onto a leaf, it triggers tiny hairs that cause the two halves of the leaf to close, forming a cage that it cannot escape from. As it tries to escape, it will eventually be sealed within the leaf and dissolved by enzymes.

Answer 3

When the plant has a insect, it squeezes tightly together. Partly crushing the insect and spreading enzymes all over the insect. The enzymes eat away the insect and the juices are absorbed. The trap will open again when it is done, and what is left of the bug will be blown or washed out of the trap.

Answer 4

The Venus flytrap traps bugs by tiny hairs that are triggered by the insects legs like touch sensors. Then when the traps closes, the hairs keep the insects inside as they struggle to get out. This makes static electricity shocking the plant, making it shut for ten days.
the Venus Fly Trap leaves its "mouth" opened and inside are little hair like sensors. When something lands in the mouth of the plant, it must touch three of the hairs and then it has about 10 seconds until the Venus Fly Trap closes and the insect, most of the time, cannot escape the grasp.
When their prey land on the open part of their mouth they slowly close it trapping them inside

Answer 5

That is a good question. The Venus Flytrap holds sweet smelling acids in its "jaws." It opens and waits for a bug to jump or fly onto its trigger hairs, and then it clamps shut. The acids slowly digest the bug.

Answer 6

The Venus Fly Trap traps insects by emitting a fragrance that attracts them. Then, the fly trap closes quickly and the insect is unable to escape.

Answer 7

The large leaves on the Flytrap can open and close when triggered by an insect. There are hairs inside its leaf so when a hair is triggered it closes, thus catching an unlucky bug.

Answer 8

A Venus fly trap catches insect that are attracted to the sweet smell it puts off. They land on the plant and the plant closes around them.

Answer 9

The Venus Flytrap attracts flies by giving off a scent. The plant is also very colourful and attracts flies with ease as they think the plant contains nectar.