Can Venus Flytraps Eat Ants?

I actually had someone on my YouTube channel the other day ask, can venus flytraps eat ants? Venus flytraps can definitely eat ants. A venus flytrap that is left outside will likely eat a few ants. If you are looking for the best insects to feed your venus flytrap, I would recommend avoiding ants if possible. Ants have been known to kill or cause harm to the trap that captures the ant. No need to panic if your flytrap closes on an ant,but know that they have been known to cause issues for venus flytraps and there are better options available. 

Lets take a closer look at venus flytraps eating ants, and which insects are better options! 

Technically, the answer to this question is yes. Venus flytraps can and will eat ants. The better question to ask is whether or not you should feed your venus flytraps ants. When left outside, I have noticed that my venus flytraps will close down on larger ants. Smaller garden ants may not be big enough to trigger the trap to close.

I’ve seen my own venus flytraps handle ants just fine, but I have also seen them turn black and die while trying to digest the ant. This could be a result of the ants' acidic nature.

If you are asking this question to consider which insects are best to feed your venus flytrap, I’d probably recommend avoiding ants altogether. I wouldn’t panic if you see your flytrap catch an ant, but there are better options for feeding a venus flytrap. We will discus some of those options below.

Can A Venus Flytrap Eat Gnats?

Can you feed a venus flytrap dead bugs? 

Venus flytraps definitely eat ants in the wild. Venus flytraps will actually close and try to eat anything that moves. They aren’t picky, and they will close the trap down when the trigger hairs are touched. Any insect moving around inside the trap will trigger the plant and the trap will close. Ants are one of the most common insects making them a regular meal for venus flytraps.

When in the wild, a flytrap's diet consists of 33% ants, 30% spiders, 10% beetles and 10% grasshoppers. According to the paper cited below, feeding venus flytraps nitrogen content (insects) will result in larger traps. It’s also stated that 20 to 50% of flytraps' total intake of nitrogen comes from insects alone. It's reasonable to conclude that a group of flytraps that feeds on insects will grow larger than a group that does not consume any insects.

Citation

The point is that: venus flytraps consume a lot of ants in the wild, so it’s probably okay. However, if you have a choice, I’d recommend some of the other insects below.

Here is a fun video I did of my venus flytrap catching a large ant. Did my venus flytrap eat the ant? Only one way to find out, check out the video.

Although it's likely fine to feed your venus flytrap ants, I would recommend different types of insects if other options are available. The best insects are the ones that have higher concentrations of nitrogen and are easier for the flytrap to break down and digest. Check out the best insects below to feed a venus flytrap.

It's all in the name. One of the best insects for a venus flytrap is the common house fly. Not only do they have a high nitrogen concentration, but they are soft enough for the venus flytrap to easily break down and consume. I know with my personal collection, my venus flytraps most common meal is definitely flys, I don't see them get many ants. 

Spiders are also high in nitrogen and have fairly soft bodies that are easy for the venus flytrap to break down and consume. The are the second most common insect eaten in the wild by venus flytraps. 

There are many kinds of wasps and these do tend to be a little tricky as they are typically a little bigger than some other insects. If the wasp is too big, the trap will close, but it won't be able to digest the insect. Assuming the wasp is less than half the size of the trap that closes, it makes a great meal for the plant. 

Mealworms are my favorite insect to feed my venus flytraps. They are fairly easy to get and are not very expensive. It's much easier to buy some live mealworms than try to find insects around your house for your venus flytrap to eat. They are soft enough for the venus flytrap to digest easily and also contain a lot of nitrogen.

Crickets, like mealworms, are a great and easy to obtain snack for your venus flytrap. Just make sure you get some that are small enough for the trap to close entirely. They are easily broken down and contain a lot of nitrogen.

When it comes down to it, venus flytraps can and will eat ants. If left in the wild, it's one of the the most common insects a flytrap will consume. If you can avoid ants, I'd recommend doing so. There are better insects that are higher in nitrogen that can do less harm to your flytraps. Any of the insects listed above would be better and are typically available to buy and feed your venus flytrap. Can a venus flytrap eat ants? Yes, yes they can. Should a venus flytrap eat ants, not if it can be avoided!