A carnivorous pitcher plant has been found to lace its sugary nectar with a potent nerve toxin to subdue its prey before digesting it.
The plant, Nepenthes khasiana, produces a sweet liquid along the rim of its pitcher-shaped traps that attracts insects, especially ants. Researchers discovered the nectar contains isoshinanolone, a toxic nerve agent that disrupts the insects’ nervous systems, slowing movement, weakening muscles and triggering excessive grooming. Many affected ants eventually fall into spasms, with some dying before tumbling into the trap.
The nectar also contains three types of sugar that absorb water, making the rim extremely slippery. Disoriented and weakened, insects are far more likely to slide into the pitcher, where they are dissolved in digestive fluids.
By combining chemical intoxication with a physical trap, Nepenthes khasiana efficiently captures prey, gaining vital nutrients needed to survive in the nutrient-poor soils where it grows.
