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by Daydreamer on July 18th, 2005

Daydreamer

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What does a Venus Fly Trap do to an insect after it is caught?

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  • by allbyend on July 18th, 2005

    allbyend

    Once the trap fully closes, the leaves form an airtight seal so that: digestive fluids and insect parts are kept inside the trap and bacteria and molds can't get in. To make sure that the insects are contained within the trap, the edges of the leaves have finger-like cilia that lace together when the leaves press shut. These long, hair-like projections make the plant look like it has spiny teeth; but the cilia are really only used to latch the trap shut.

    Once the insect is firmly ensconced in the trap, the process of digestion can begin. The trap now serves as a miniature stomach. Just like our stomachs, the trap secretes acidic digestive juices that:
    1. Dissolve the soft tissues and cell membranes of the food
    2. Serve as an antiseptic to kill small amounts of bacteria inadvertently eaten or sealed in with the food
    3. Enzymatically digest DNA, amino acids and other cellular molecules into small pieces that can be taken up by the plant

    These digestive juices are secreted from glands on the inside surface of the trap, right onto the trapped prey. The insect is bathed in these juices over a period of five to 12 days, during which the insect is digested and nutrients are extracted. The process continues until all that's left of the insect is its hard exoskeleton. Once the nutrients are depleted from the acidic bath, the plant reabsorbs the digestive fluid. This serves as a signal to reopen the trap, and the remains of the insect are usually either washed away in the rain or blown away by the wind.

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