How does the deadly Venus flytrap snare – and dissolve – its prey?

The Venus flytrap Dionaea muscipula is a carnivorous plant that ensnares and digests animal prey, particularly insects and spiders.

The trap is sprung when an insect brushes against two of the touch-sensitive hairs on the leaf surface within about 20 seconds of each other.

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This stimulates stretch receptors in the base of the hairs, which trigger an electrical signal that spreads across the leaf, causing the cells on the underside of the lobes to expand rapidly (it is still not known whether they take on water or change the shape of their cell walls).

When open, the lobes curl outwards at the edges. But the swelling cells cause the lobes to buckle inwards and snap shut.

 Then fluids secreted by the digestive glands lining the inside of the trap start to dissolve the soft parts of the insect

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