Venus Flytrap Catches Flies Quickly

Function

The Venus flytrap has red, predatory leaves with nectaries that produce nectar to attract flies. Three pairs of sensory hairs line the edge of the predatory leaves. When a fly touches these hairs more than once in a 30 second period, the leaves shut at a speed of 100mm per second, trapping the fly inside. In order to ensure the plant only closes its leaves on flies, it recalls the number of times the sensory hairs have been stimulated, reliably shutting after two occurrences.

Functional Classification

Form/Organization/System:
Opening and closing
Defense/Stability:
Attack

Environmental Solution Classification

Related Literature

Forterre, Yoel; Skotheim, Jan M.; Dumais, Jacques; Mahadevan, L. 2005. How the Venus flytrap snaps. Nature. 433(7024): 421-425.

Technical Application

Products and Services

Type of Business

Proposals of Applied Technology

The mechanism that triggers the Venus flytrap’s leaves to shut can be applied to technology that operates machinery without the use of manpower. It can also be used to develop electrical equipment and sensors that open and close wirelessly.

Proposals of Applied Industry

Related Life Style