Why carnivorous plants eat insects, small animals

A plant nursery in Murcia, Negros Occidental is home to hundreds of carnivorous plants.

“Nagsimula po ako 2021. Gusto kong mag-start ng something na kakaiba. Nakita ko ‘yung carnivorous plant,” Rafael Yulo said on the "Kuya Kim, ano na?" segment on "24 Oras,"

(I started in 2021. I wanted to start something unique. I saw a carnivorous plant.) 

“Meron po akong ibat-ibang uri ng carnivorous plants. Meron pitcher plants, sarracenia, pinguicula. Siguro mga more than 200 to 300 yung plants,” he added. 

(I have different kinds of carnivorous plants. I have pitcher plants, sarracenia, pinguicula. I think I have maybe more than 200 to 300 plants.) 

Carnivorous plants like venus fly traps, byblos, and sundew have pitfalls and traps that enable them to capture and digest insects. 

Kuya Kim Atienza said carnivorous plants often grew on not so fertile soil and needed insects and small enzymes for their nutrients.

The venus fly trap and the pitcher plant have enzymes that digest insects once they are trapped.

“At first nai-intimidate ako kasi nakikita ko lang siya sa mga movies. Pero when you see it tapos inalagaan niyo na siya, it's not that hard pala,” said Rafael’s girlfriend, Kara. 

(At first, I was intimidated because I only saw this in movies. But when you see and take care of it, you will see that it's not that hard.) 

Rafael said it was not dangerous to take care of such plants. 

"Hindi naman sila delikado kasi ‘yung kinakain naman lang nila ‘yung insekto at yung pinakamalaki nilang kinakain ay ‘yung daga," Rafael said. 

(They are not dangerous because they only eat insects, and the biggest thing they eat is rats.) —Sherylin Untalan/NB, GMA Integrated News