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Name: Matthew
Status: student
Grade: 6-8
Location: CT
Country: USA
Date: Winter 2009-2010
Question:
How do venus fly traps release natural wastes?


Replies:
Matt

Venus fly traps dissolve out the chemicals they need from the insect's body Then open and let the wind blow the remains out of the trap.

Google "Venus Fly Trap" and you will find lots of really neat articles on the internet, like

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/facts-about-venus-flytrap.html

And this from the Boy Scouts (this has cool pictures):

http://www.botany.org/bsa/misc/carn.html

and here is another:

http://www.botany.org/Carnivorous_Plants/

Sincere regards,

Mike Stewart

I think you are asking about what happens to the remains of the insect. After the trap has closed upon the insect, enzymes digest soft parts of the insect, and then when the t rap re-opens, the husk of chitin (the exoskeleton of the insect) is just discarded with the wind or falls out of the trap.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_Flytrap

Sincerely,

Anthony R. Brach, PhD


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