A Venus flytrap with its prey (center): When the fly comes into contact with the sensory hairs, an action potential (AP) is triggered in the Venus flytrap (left). Compared to the animal AP of the fly (right), clearly different ionic fluxes are involved in the different APs.
A Venus flytrap with its prey ( center ): When the fly comes into contact with the sensory hairs, an action potential (AP) is triggered in the Venus flytrap ( left ). Compared to the animal AP of the fly ( right ), clearly different ionic fluxes are involved in the different APs. The Venus flytrap relies on glutamate receptors to catch prey. It transmits the corresponding stimuli electrically. A research team at the University of Würzburg has now explained the mechanism behind this . To hunt flies and other small animals, the Venus flytrap must be faster than its prey. To do this, it has developed a catching organ that can snap shut in a fraction of a second and is controlled by one of the fastest stimulus lines in the plant kingdom.
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