Monday, March 17, 2008

Kerry's Question


It can't smell but bugs smell the sweet nectar inside the trap and are lured in by this!

Here is some information to read that supports our claim.

The traps of Venus' flytraps produce a sweet smelling nectar that attracts insects. When the insects get close, they seek the source of nectar--and fall right into the trap! Each trap has several tiny trigger hairs on the inside of the trap. If you look closely, you should be able to see some of these tiny triggers. When two of these are triggered, the trap snaps shut--hopefully catching what triggered it. The trap then gets tighter and tighter as it senses movement inside, eventually creating a watertight seal. The plant then secretes digestive enzymes, and the trap becomes a stomach that digest the bug and then absorbs the nutrients. After a week or so, the trap will reopen, leaving behind only an exoskeleton that will wash away with the next rain or blow away in the wind.
The traps are pretty smart and will reopen within a day or two if nothing is inside. The also know not to close on water or wind, though a strong enough rain or wind can cause them to shut. A trap will typically only close four to five times before it dies, whether it catches food or not. If it catches food, a new bigger trap will grow in its place.

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