Why do some plants feed on insects? How does a pitcher plant catch insects?

Some plants feed on insects because they grow in environments where the soil lacks essential nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, that are critical for their growth. These carnivorous plants have evolved to trap and digest insects, allowing them to absorb nutrients directly from their prey and supplement what is unavailable in the soil.

How a Pitcher Plant Catches Insects

• Pitcher plants have specialized, modified leaves that form deep, tubular "pitchers" filled with digestive fluids.
• The rim of the pitcher, called the peristome, is slippery and often produces nectar to lure insects.
• When an insect lands on the rim, it often slips due to the smooth or waxy surface and falls into the liquid at the base of the pitcher.
• Once inside, the insect cannot escape because the pitcher walls are slippery and sometimes lined with downward-pointing hairs that prevent climbing out.
• The trapped insect drowns, and digestive enzymes in the pitcher fluid break down its body, allowing the plant to absorb the released nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphates.

This unique adaptation helps pitcher plants (and other insectivorous species) thrive in nutrient-poor habitats where most other plants would not survive.