How Venus Flytraps Snap
The Venus flytrap plant catches spiders and insects by snapping its trap leaves. This mechanism is activated when unsuspecting prey touch highly sensitive trigger hairs twice within 30 seconds.
A study led by researchers at the University of Zurich shows that a single slow touch also triggers trap closure – probably to catch slow-moving larvae and snails.
The research is a collaborative effort carried out under the lead of Swiss Plant Science Web member Prof. Ueli Grossniklaus and his team at the University of Zurich with SPSW colleagues from the ETH Zurich.
Reference publication
Jan T. Burri, Eashan Saikia, Nino F. Läubli, Hannes Vogler, Falk K. Wittel, Markus Rüggeberg, Hans J. Herrmann, Ingo Burgert, Bradley J. Nelson, Ueli Grossniklaus.
A single touch can provide sufficient mechanical stimulation to trigger Venus flytrap closure.
PLOS Biology. 10 July 2020. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000740
Source
UZH Press Release
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