How do Venus Fly Traps open and close?

The mechanism by which the trap snaps shut involves a complex interaction between elasticity, turgor and growth. In the open, untripped state, the lobes are convex (bent outwards), but in the closed state, the lobes are concave (forming a cavity). read more

In the case of the Venus Flytrap, the leaves forming the trap secrete a sweet nectar that draws in insects searching for food. Capturing Prey When an insect lands or crawls on the trap, it is likely to run into one of six, short, stiff hairs on the trap's surface. read more

The leaves on a plant don't live forever, and the same is true of the Venus flytrap. Each trap, or leaf pair, on a flytrap has a limited lifespan. After closing three to five times, the traps on the plant will remain closed, turn black and die. Hopefully, each closing will imprison an insect and feed the plant. read more