This Wasp Didn’t Stand a Chance. Here’s Why.

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It’s only recently, thanks to advances in molecular biology, that scientists have been able to learn more about how carnivorous plants work. While most plants are food themselves, carnivorous plants prey on small animals and insects for their diet. There are around 630 species of carnivorous plants in the world. Among those, the Venus flytrap is one of the most well-known.

The video above gives an up close and personal look at how fascinating Venus flytraps are. A nature photographer and filmmaker recorded wasps buzzing around their Venus flytrap plants. The photographer ended up with some incredible footage. Sometimes the wasps flit away before the deadly leaf closes around them. Keep watching and you will see that some wasps weren’t as lucky. How does the plant know to close its trap at exactly the right time? And how does it close so fast? Read on to find out.

Where Do Venus Flytraps Grow?

Among the 630 species of carnivorous plants around the world, 66 of them are native to North America. Out of those 66 species, a little over half are native to North Carolina and South Carolina, including the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula). Carnivorous plants, like the Venus flytrap, thrive in North Carolina bogs and swamps where the soil lacks nutrients. Because they can’t get nutrients out of the soil, these plants have adapted to find it elsewhere.

Venus flytraps are a state-protected species in both North and South Carolina. Their population is stable, but they are in danger of losing their habitat. They grow in the wetlands and coastal plains. However, it’s a felony to collect them from the wild. If you’d like to own a Venus flytrap, look for a reputable nursery that sells them.

What Happens to the Wasps in the Video?

When you view the video above, watch how the wasps are darting around the leaves of the plant. Sometimes they land on the leaves and nothing happens. The trap either stays open or the wasp darts away before the trap shuts. That is, until around the 2:28 time stamp, when an unfortunate wasp lingers too long drinking a droplet of water. The leaves slam shut at record speed, trapping the wasp. No matter how much the wasp struggles, it can’t break free.

How Do Venus Flytraps Capture Prey?

The Venus flytrap can’t sense its prey the way animal predators do. It doesn’t see, smell, or hear. However, it knows when an animal or insect has entered its trap when its tiny hair-like structures on the surface of its leaves sense pressure or touch. Insects are lured in by the sweet nectar the plant produces.

The plant is alerted to the insect’s presence when it brushes up against the hair-like structures. But the Venus flytrap doesn’t want to waste the energy it takes to close its trap if the insect has already flown away. It won’t shut its leaves unless two or more of its hairs are touched within around 20 seconds of each other. When that occurs, an electrical signal is sent across the leaf and the trap closes on hinged lobes, like a clamshell.

As the insect struggles to escape, the leaves shut down even more tightly. The bristles along the leaves act as a cage and eventually close completely around the prey. As you can see in the video, the helpless wasp continues to look for a way out. But it remains stuck.

The Next Step is Digestion

When the insect is completely enclosed in the trap, the hinged lobes close so tightly that nothing can escape. The plant then releases digestive fluids to break down its prey, which can take around five to 12 days depending on the size of the insect. When the flytrap is done eating, nothing is left of the insect except for its hard exoskeleton. The plant absorbs the nutrients from the prey and reabsorbs its digestive fluids. The clamshell-like leaves reopen. The trap sets once again for the next unsuspecting insect.

How Fast Does the Venus Flytrap Close?

Once the trap is triggered, the Venus flytrap shuts its leaves incredibly fast, giving the insect very little time to make an escape. In fact, it’s one of the fastest movements made by any plant. Researchers have found the initial snap happens in less than a third of a second. Once the insect is caught, it takes another 30 minutes for the plant to interlace its bristles, completely closing around the insect. Eventually, the leaves close so tightly that they form an airtight seal.

Why Don’t the Wasps Sting the Plant to Make an Escape?

We know if we closed our hands around a wasp, we would very likely get stung. But the wasps in the video don’t appear to use their stinger to get out of their predicament. Experts have observed wasps trapped by Venus flytraps seem to react less aggressively than they would to a person or animal, never using their stinger. Once the trap is set, the wasp is caught, just like any other insect.