THE UNIQUE VENUS FLYTRAP

The Venus Flytrap is truly unique because there is really only one species of it (Dionaea Muscipula), though horticulturists have developed many cultivar Venus Flytraps, with different colours and unusual leaves.

They are native to the United States, mainly North and South Carolina. The Green Swamp of North Carolina is a 15,907-acre National Natural Landmark which supports a healthy ecology and is home to this unusual plant, the laws there prohibit the removal of the Venus Flytrap from it's habitat.

The Venus Flytrap is a carnivor, and it will lure insects by secreting a fragrant nectar that they can't resist. Their favourite food is ants, but they will also eat spiders, slugs, flies, beetles and even frogs and they need these to survive because they live in nitrogen-poor soil.
Their jaws don't close immediately when the insect lands, they are equipped with sensory trichomes, which are hair's on the petals which count the movement's of the insect.

There needs to be at least two touches in so many seconds before the petals will close, this prevents it from trapping inedible foods. When the Venus Flytraps mouth is closed, it is completely airtight.
The plant will then close its jaw in under one second, by snapping closed. The next step is to digest the food with it's digestive juices to break down the insect.
After around a week it will reopen and the undigested parts of the bug will fall out.
They have a long lifespan, they can live up to twenty years. They go dormant in the winter to survive, but usually need high humidity and a lot of sunlight as well.

I wish I knew about their needs a long time ago, because I have bought many over the years and they have all died. But now I have learned more about them I might give them another go.

Photos and writing by white.tiger