Recently, an image of a giant Venus Fly Trap was circulated on the web with a rumor that it eats a mouse as its prey.
Thus, read on to unveil the truth behind the ‘giant Venus Fly Trap eats a mouse’ rumor with extra growing tips.
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What Do Giant Venus Fly Traps Eat?
Venus Fly Trap is a carnivorous plant that eats insects, arachnids, and small arthropods. For example, they can eat flies, hornets, ants, spiders, snails, etc.
From small ants to slugs, Venus Fly Traps can eat insects half the size of their traps. And the giant Venus Fly Trap ever recorded measured 2.4 inches or 3.1 centimeters.
As they are not picky eaters, Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea muscipula) eats whatever enters their trap, even frogs.
According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Venus Fly Trap eats 33% of ants, 30% of spiders, 10% of beetles, and 10% of grasshoppers, with 5% of flies only.
The unique leaves trap insects and digest them there. They absorb nutrients during digestion and sustain their life.
Now, if you have a Venus Fly Trap indoors, you can feed them with live flies, spiders, or any other small insects.
However, you must not feed them human food. Also, do not give them chunks of non-insect meat.
Anything besides natural prey is risky, and you might lose the trap altogether. So, give the giant Venus Fly Trap small insects only to eat.
How Does The Giant Venus Fly Trap Eat?
First of all, often confused with flowers, the traps of Venus Fly Traps are a modified leaf. They are visually inviting to insects.
Further, Venus Fly Traps produce nectar and emits a sweet scent to lure insects to their trap chamber.
As per botanical terms, the trigger hairs are trichomes. Likewise, the plant movement in response to touch is called thigmonasty.
Remember, the trap of Venus Fly Trap does not snap shut until insects do not touch multiple hairs.
Once the giant Venus Fly Trap traps its prey, they release digestive enzymes. These enzymes break down the tissues of trapped prey.
Then, the plant absorbs and feasts on the released nutrients. After the digestion, the trap reopens to trap other prey.
That said, if the bug is too large, it may cause bacterial rot, and the trap may not reopen.
Thus, you should avoid feeding your Venus Fly Trap plant with insects or bugs over 1/3rd the length of a trap.
Giant Venus Fly Trap Eats Mouse! Do They?
No! Given the average size of the giant Venus Fly Trap plant’s trap, they cannot eat a mouse.
Further, you may wonder what about the small mice babies. But honestly, though the trap can close entirely, they might not be able to digest or break down the mice.
Moreover, the plant trap may not reopen, suffer from rotting, and can die. Therefore, do not experiment with the trap.
Editor’s Note
At Least One Trap Have Something To Eat!
For the best growth of the Venus Fly Trap, try to feed small insects to at least one trap per plant. So, the plant has a regular supply of nutrients.
But you should avoid using regular fertilizer as the plant is sensitive to excess nutrients. Instead, place them in bright spots or use grow lights.
All The Best!
