PH
The Venus flytrap obtains most of its basic energy through photosynthesis, just like other green plants.
Insects provide nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus that can be scarce in the nutrient-poor soils where the plant naturally grows.
The trap is therefore more like a nutrient-acquisition system than a replacement for sunlight. Digesting prey can supplement the minerals available to the plant.
A Venus flytrap can still photosynthesize without catching insects, although access to nutrients affects its growth.
© North Carolina Botanical Garden