Expert: Christopher Littrell - 11/18/2009

Question
QUESTION: hello!i was wondering if you can send me a menu of all the food a vft can eat so i can print it and also in the answer tell me if a vft can be overfed and when to feed it thank you.

ANSWER: Hello Miguel,

There really is no reason to "feed" a Venus Flytrap. They attract and capture whatever insects and spiders crawl near the plant with the ones small enough to be trapped and killed as the digested, nitrogen rich supplement of the week. Venus Flytraps will do this themselves, particularly if grown outside.

Christopher

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QUESTION: i do grow my vft outside but i like feeding it myself sometimes its fun to feed it and think i sent a fly into burning acids so i feed it most of the time which is why i asked those other question so can you send me an answer of a deliciose vft food menu

ANSWER: Hello Miguel,

I do not have a comprehensive "menu" as none has yet been made. It would simply take too much time and space to list all of the potential insects, spiders, and isopods that Venus Flytraps can and will trap. Suffice it to say that the majority of Venus Flytrap victims would be flies, spiders, bees, sow bugs, and wasps. The best bet for those that want to see the trapping action of the plant would be to provide one small insect of up to 1/4 to 1/3 the size of the trap every two weeks or so and only if the plant has not captured anything in that time by itself. If insects and spiders of too great a size, those that stick out of the trap or are larger than 1/3 the size of the trap, are captured, the trap might suffer from rotting and fungal attack.

Christopher

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QUESTION: so just to be sure they lure flies spiders and other things by themselfs. if they do how? is it a scent or color.

Answer
Hello Miguel,

Venus Flytraps lure prey by the reddish coloration they develop inside the trap and by the scent and presence of nectar around the periphery of the trap leaves. In addition, the shape of the traps themselves lure spiders and insects in as they seek corners and partially closed spaces to hide in. The presence of previous victims also would lure in more victims. A dead fly might lure a spider or another fly in to investigate the dead one.

Christopher