Why can pitcher plants eat insects?

How to Eat Bugs

The reason why Nepenthes is able to capture and eat flying and crawling insects is because of its unique organ, which is the small cage on its body, which is the thing that catches insects. This organ is a long and deep bottle-shaped organ with a small opening at the top. Once an insect crawls in, it will not be able to get out and will gradually be buried at the bottom of the bottle, becoming the nutrients needed for the growth of the pitcher plant.

Why can we eat insects?

Some people may ask, isn’t it just a plant? Even if the bottle is deep, it won’t swallow the insect. Is there any mystery? That's right, the cage of this plant is not just a bottle. The inside of the bottle is very smooth. Once the insects enter, they will slide to the bottom of the bottle. Waiting for them at the bottom of the bottle are thousands of plant digestive glands. With the secretion and corrosion of internal digestive juices, the insects that accidentally come in will gradually be anesthetized and lose their ability to move, and then they will be eaten and turned into nutrients.

In addition to its internal digestive function, pitcher plants also have the ability to trap. At the top of the bottle, that is, the mouth of the bottle, there grow a large number of nectar glands. These glands secrete a large amount of sweet substances, which can lure groups of insects looking for food. The temptation of delicious food deceives the insects, and they step into the abyss of death step by step and can never climb out again.