Question

Name a plant that eats insects.

Answer 1

Hint: The Plant that eats insects is a carnivorous plant also called an insectivorous plant. Such plant species are 80% terrestrial and 20% aquatic.

Complete Answer:
- The carnivorous plants have different adaptations than other plants in low nutrition conditions. Some of the nutrients are taken by trapping and digesting various invertebrates and even small frogs and mammals sometimes. Because insects are mostly frequent prey for most carnivorous plants, therefore they are also called insectivorous plants. Bogs and ferns are the most common habitat for these plants where the concentration of nutrients is low but water and sunshine are abundant.

- In a single bog, about thirteen species are found to be carnivorous plants. The leaves of these plants are modified as a trap and absorb nitrogen from their prey. Various types of trapping ways exist.
1) The pitfall trap, generally seen in the genus Nepenthes is the native to Madagascar, Southeast Asia, and Australia. The pitcher plant or monkey cup is an example of the pitfall trap, it has leaves that are deeply folded and contains slippery pools which are filled with digestive enzymes.
2) Flypaper traps are found in the genus Drosophyllum, examples include dewy pine or Portuguese Sundew. These species have stalked glands that cover leaves that exude sticky mucilage.
3) The snap traps (or steel traps) are seen in the genus of the Venus flytrap and waterwheel plant (Aldrovanda vesiculosa). These have hinged leaves that snap shut when trigger hairs are touched. Bladder wort belonging to the genus Utricularia contains suction tr s that are highly modified leaves in the shape of a bladder with a hinge lined with trigger hairs.
4) Lobster-pot traps predominantly found in corkscrew plants (genus Genlisea) that are lined with hairs and glands with twisted tubular channels.

Additional information:
 A huge, two - inches prey such as frogs are eaten by carnivorous plant Venus flytraps. Sarracenia can catch small lizards and frogs but their favourite prey is insects. Large Nepenthes are also called tropical pitcher plants that can trap small rodents, mice. Species such as Nepenthes rajah and Nepenthes attenboroughii are mostly desired for small rodents.

Note: In the kingdom Plantae, carnivorous plants belong to the order Caryophyllales, Oxalidales, Ericales, Lamiales, and Poales.