Venus Flytraps are fascinating, carnivorous plants that prosper both indoors and outdoors. When cared for properly, Venus flytraps serve as a sustainable, alternative form of pest control as they eagerly feed on various insects. Do they also eat wasps?
Venus flytraps consume wasps. They safely consume a range of live bugs and insects that are regarded as pests. They attract wasps to the nectar they produce before trapping and chemically dissolving them for nutrients. Flytraps are suitable for household use.
While the Venus Flytraps may look slightly intimidating, they’re delicate plants that are only interested in digesting bugs. They can be helpful to get rid of the odd wasp that may enter the home but do require some intricate care. Read on to find out more about using Venus Flytraps for wasp control, the do’s and don’ts of feeding your plant, and how to keep it healthy for as long as possible.
How Do Venus Flytraps consume Wasps?
Venus flytraps grow with an open-facing mouth that consists of tiny sensors that line the inside of the folds. Surrounded by a sticky residue layer, this enticing mixture secretes along the opening to lure prey looking for nectar, such as wasps. Once a wasp lands on the inner folds and begins enjoying the venus flytrap’s nectar, it will then struggle to detach from the sticky residue after feeding.
After much squirming and hesitation, the wasp will trip one of the sensitive hairs on the inside of the folds, causing the Venus flytrap to firmly and abruptly slam close. The plant’s outward-facing teeth make it impossible for the wasp to crawl its way out. Once the wasp dies, a Venus flytrap will chemically breakdown the wasp for upward of 10 days before reopening its cavity again to gather more prey.
How To Use Venus Flytraps for Wasp Control
Using a Venus Flytrap can be a way of controlling wasps alongside other methods. The plants are available for purchase both online and in-store at your local garden center. Once in hand, you will usually need to replant the Venus flytrap in a drainable, plastic pot and find a secure location where it will have access to ample sunlight. Growing the plant to its fullest potential, with care and precision, will promote its ability to catch unwanted pests better.
Ideal Location
To maximize your Venus flytraps’ potential for catching insects, the plant must sit in an ideal location that offers the right amount of natural sunlight and is in proximity to the wasp source or nest. Choosing the perfect place for your plant, either indoor or outdoor, will help contain the infestation, so wasps aren’t traveling across your property to seek out nectar. Venus flytraps can work well on windowsills and along flower beds near plants where wasps tend to gather. You can also place them in front of doorways or entryways.
Quantity
Since Venus flytraps take several days to digest a single wasp, you will need more than one plant to make any significant impact, as they will not reopen again until the current meal is complete. Fortunately, they are readily available in bunches. Together, the multiple plant heads simultaneously trap larger quantities of prey.
Indoor vs. Outdoor
Choosing to grow your Venus flytrap indoors or outdoors will depend entirely on your area’s weather conditions and climate. They require extensive sunlight exposure and warmth during their peak season, which is typically in the spring. If you have access to sun-facing windows, then indoor growing is suitable.
Soil conditions also need to be sufficient, regardless of the plant’s location, as too much or too little moisture can hinder the growth and health. Investing in carnivorous specialty soil will provide all of the needed nutrients to help your Venus flytrap grow to full capacity.
If your local climate is relatively mild, your Venus Flytrap can prosper outdoors in a pot, so long as it retains its sunlight, water, and soil essentials.
Venus Flytrap Feeding
Contrary to popular belief, Venus flytraps do not require regular feedings and can survive for several months on healthy amounts of sunlight and freshwater alone. Allowing your plant to intercept prey naturally is more beneficial to its health than attempting to feed it manually.
Can You Feed Them Dead Wasps?
We do not recommend feeding your Venus Flytrap dead wasps. The sensors on the inside of the plant’s folds are triggered by the sudden movement of live insects, allowing them to lock prey while it’s still living. A dead wasp cannot activate these interceptors to close the mouth firmly, and it may fail to digest the wasp’s carcass properly as a result.
Can You Feed Them Human Food?
Venus Flytraps cannot be fed human food or foreign objects. Not only can they not digest these foreign items, but the plant will not seal itself shut since it doesn’t recognize the foreign object as adequate prey.
What To Feed Them When There Are No More Wasps?
As mentioned before, Venus flytraps don’t necessarily need to eat often because they can survive for long periods without a fresh meal if their environment is just right. If you’re concerned about your Venus flytrap not having eaten in several months, consider moving it outside temporarily to attract new prey while still ensuring it has regular sunlight, hydration, and nutrient-rich soil.
Longevity
With the right care and attention to detail, Venus Flytraps can offer years of reliable pest control and support to your home. They provide a viable substitute to chemical pesticides and remain eco-friendly and safe for household use. Enhancing your Venus flytrap’s longevity requires ongoing maintenance throughout the year, even when it lies dormant in the colder months.
Conclusion
If you find yourself tackling nuisance wasps then consider the benefits of a Venus flytrap as a natural method of controlling wasps. Wasps are a healthy part of a Venus flytrap’s diet and can provide an additional environmentally-friendly solution to unwanted wasps. Mint is another plant that can help to control wasps. Go here to read more about Mint’s impact on wasps.