Victor the Venus Flytrap and Buzz

The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is a classic carnivorous plant! It thrives in nutrient-poor soils, like the bogs of the Carolinas, so it’s evolved to snag insects for extra goodies like nitrogen and phosphorus. Those snappy leaves are lined with tiny trigger hairs—when an insect brushes them (twice within about 20 seconds), the trap slams shut in less than a second, thanks to an electrical signal. Then, digestive enzymes break down the prey over days or weeks, kind of like a slow-motion plant buffet. It’s not just eating for fun—studies show it can get up to 50% of its nitrogen this way.