Venus Flytrap: A Bug-Eating Plant

The Venus flytrap – the coolest of all carnivorous (meat-eating) plants. The great British naturalist Charles Darwin called it one of the most wonderful plants in the world. This is a book for young readers (grades 1-4) filled with colorful pictures of this amazing fly-catcher plant. This natural science book introduces the young audience to the wonder of nature.

Did you know that the Venus flytrap quietly counts how many times the trap is touched by the potential prey? Yes, it has memory – only after sensitive trigger hairs inside the trap are disturbed twice does the trap snap lightning fast! Did you know that the Venus flytrap grows wild only in the United States? The Venus flytrap is only found naturally in a very limited area along the Atlantic coastal plain of North and South Carolina and the wild population is declining rapidly due to habitat destruction. The plants are protected by law and you cannot collect them from the field. But no worries. Venus flytraps are very popular in horticulture and you can find them in any local nursery or home center near you. Get one for your children (or for yourself) and see how fast the Venus flytrap catches a live meal. This natural science book explains how the Venus flytrap traps and eats its meal in vivid color pictures. Young children will be fascinated by this amazing creation of nature.

Do you know this flesh-eating plant produces a deceptively beautiful, innocent-looking white flowers? If you sow the seeds, you will get tiny Venus flytrap babies. Even a one-month-old baby already has a tiny but functional trap! (See the baby picture inside.) The Venus flytrap is not a difficult plant to grow once you understand a few basics. The book contains useful growing tips of this fascinating plant.

For older children grades 4-6, we also wrote a companion book “Venus Flytrap – A Science Guide for Kids & Teachers” (grades 4-6). To learn more about meat-eating carnivorous plants in general, please see “Eaten Alive by Carnivorous Plants: Kids’ Science Book about Meat-Eating Plants” (grades 2-4) by the same authors. If you liked the book, please write a short Amazon book review. Thank you and Enjoy!