It might sound too good to be true — plants that eat mosquitoes — but it isn’t (for the most part). Most carnivorous plants will happily eat mosquitoes and other pesky bugs, but there are some caveats.
Keep reading to learn the five best mosquito-eating plants (and eight mosquito-repelling plants) to create an outdoor space that keeps bugs at bay year-round.
Scrappy Gardeners is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases when you click on links in this post.
Can Venus Fly Traps Really Eat Mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes are one of the most annoying and potentially dangerous insects out there. Their incessant buzzing and biting can drive you crazy, not to mention they spread diseases like malaria, Zika, West Nile, and more. With warmer weather bringing mosquitoes out in swarms, you may be wondering if carnivorous plants like the Venus fly trap can provide natural mosquito control. Do Venus fly traps actually eat mosquitoes, or are they too small to get snapped up?
While Venus fly traps do readily devour some insects, their ability to catch mosquitoes specifically depends on a few factors. In optimal conditions, Venus fly traps can absolutely feast on mosquitoes. But there are some limitations. Read on to learn if and when Venus fly traps can help tackle your mosquito problems.
How Venus Fly Traps Catch Prey
Here’s a quick primer on how the ingenious Venus fly trap snares its meals The iconic pair of rounded lobes are actually modified leaves edged with stiff spikes and tiny sensitive hairs
When an unsuspecting insect crawls across these hairs, it triggers an electrical impulse. If a second impulse fires within 20 to 40 seconds from a different hair, the Venus fly trap recognizes potential prey. The plant’s lobes snap shut around the bug in the blink of an eye.
Once closed, the plant secretes digestive enzymes into the trap to dissolve the soft tissues of the insect. Within about 10 days, it will have extracted all the nutrients it can, then re-open for its next victim.
Venus Fly Traps vs. Mosquitoes
Venus fly traps don’t discriminate between bugs. They will happily feast on any appropriately sized insects and spiders including:
- Flies
- Beetles
- Grasshoppers
- Caterpillars
- Bees
- Ants
- Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are fair game. However, the tiny size of some species can make it easier for them to escape or fail to trigger the trap in the first place.
Factors Impacting Mosquito Catch Rate
Venus fly traps certainly do catch and eat mosquitoes when given the chance. But there are a few variables that affect their effectiveness:
Trap Size – Larger traps can more easily snare mosquitoes while smaller varieties may be too petite. Choose robust ‘Big Mouth’ or ‘King Henry’ cultivars.
Plant Maturity – Mature plants with several well-formed traps catch more bugs than juvenile fly traps. Prioritize full-grown plants.
Trap Sensitivity – Select breeds specifically marketed as “pest” or “insectivorous” plants, as they may have more sensitive hairs.
Location – Position fly traps in hot spots where mosquitoes congregate – shady, wet areas.
Time of Day – Mosquitoes swarm at dawn and dusk when traps are most active.
Density – A chorus line of multiple fly traps covers more ground to intersect mosquitoes.
Attractants – Consider adding a sugar water bait in the traps to draw more mosquitoes in.
As you can see, the setup of your fly traps influences how adept they are at catching mosquitoes. But under the right conditions, they can definitely feast on the blood-sucking pests.
Growing Fly Traps for Mosquito Control
If you want to enlist Venus fly traps to combat mosquitoes naturally, follow these tips:
-
Situate near standing water, sprinklers, birdbaths, or shady, moist areas that invite mosquitoes.
-
Start traps indoors in early spring, then move outside when night temps stay above 50°F.
-
Choose large varieties best suited for insect trapping like ‘Big Mouth’ or ‘King Henry’.
-
Use distilled or rain water only since tap water may kill them. Keep soil moist but not saturated.
-
Provide at least 4 hours of direct sun daily. Supplement with grow lights if needed.
-
Add pebbles and water to traps to create a bait that lures mosquitoes in.
-
Plant fly traps in groups of 3 or more to cover more ground.
-
Refresh poor soil annually. Avoid fertilizers which can kill the plants.
-
Bring a few pots indoors before first frost to overwinter them.
-
In cooler months, allow soil to partially dry out and maintain 50-60°F temps.
Unleash Killer Plants on Mosquitoes!
Carnivorous Venus fly traps can indeed catch and digest pesky mosquitoes, especially when set up strategically in prime mosquito real estate. While they likely won’t fully eliminate mosquitoes on their own, they are a chemical-free deterrent and let you take revenge on the insects in the most natural way possible! Adding some of these wild, unusual plants brings an exotic flair to your garden as well.
Fly traps are low maintenance companions that complement other integrated mosquito control methods. Give yourself the upper hand over bothersome mosquitoes this season by adding Venus fly trap soldiers to your landscape lineup. Let the plant kingdom fight back against those blood-sucking invaders!
Carnivorous Plants = Pest Control
While a carnivorous plant or two (or even 20) will never be able to reduce significant numbers of mosquitoes outdoors, they’re still a fun and fascinating way to get rid of some insects. (And, hey, even one dead mosquito is a good thing, right?)
However, when kept inside your home, carnivorous plants are especially helpful at catching insects like fruit flies, fungus gnats, moths, beetles, and small spiders.
Whether you choose a pitcher plant, Venus flytrap, or sundew, these exotic plants make a great addition to your home. Pair them with mosquito-repelling plants, like catnip and marigolds, for added protection.
Using Carnivorous Plants to Catch Mosquitoes
Before you get too excited, it’s important to be realistic about what a carnivorous plant can do. While these predatory plants may catch a few mosquitoes, they won’t be able to control vast numbers outdoors.
Carnivorous plants can also be challenging to grow outdoors in some areas. For example, regions with harsh summers, like the Southwest United States, or those with harsh winters, such as the Northeast, can make it hard to keep carnivorous plants alive outdoors.
However, the good news is that carnivorous plants excel at controlling bugs indoors. For example, if you bring home a houseplant with gnats, you can count on sundews and butterworts to take care of the problem for you. Or, if a small moth gets inside your house, your Venus flytrap will likely have it for dinner.
These plants are easier to grow indoors, too, assuming you follow care instructions. This includes providing lots of direct sun or using a plant grow light.
$1 vs $100 Venus Flytraps
FAQ
What is the best plant to eat mosquitoes?
Yes, carnivorous plants like sundews, pitcher plants, and Venus flytraps can catch mosquitoes. However, they are unlikely to control large populations on their own. In the carnivorous plant world, sundews and butterworts are the most likely to catch mosquitoes effectively.
Do fly traps attract mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes and other flying insects are attracted to the light and get stuck on the fly ribbon. Fly ribbons were originally used, and still are, in dairying and will trap any flying insect but especially ones that land on things.
Do carnivorous plants kill mosquitoes?
Click to enlarge image. Tropical carnivorous pitcher plants botanically known as Nepenthes feed on insects including roaches, ants and mosquitoes.Jul 10, 2017
Do Venus flytraps eat mosquitoes?
Venus flytraps eat mosquitoes because it is a rich source of nitrogen and other nutrients. But these plants are not effective repellents because mosquitoes are so small they can sometimes escape the trap. Can Venus Flytraps Eat Mosquitoes? Venus flytraps consume mosquitoes, flies, gnats and other insects to boost their nitrogen level.
What do Venus fly traps eat?
Venus fly traps, which eat many types of insects, including mosquitoes. Only they eat a few insects per week, and these are tropical plants. Can you feed a Venus flytrap hamburger? If you feed a Venus flytrap some hamburger meat, it will probably die. Venus flytraps are waiting for bugs. feed them anything else, and they don’t go like this.
How do Venus flytraps catch insects?
The trap quickly shuts to trap the insect. Venus flytraps use the same methods to catch all kinds of insects. It starts with luring them into the trap and waiting for two sensory triggers. Venus flytraps cannot see, but they are able to detect what is happening in the trap.
Are Venus Fly Traps a good mosquito repellent?
Venus flytraps are not the best mosquito repellents for two reasons. One, the insect is small enough to get out of the trap, and it takes the plant up to two weeks to digest one inset. Most traps require an insect weighing 10mg to trigger the hair. Small mosquitoes might only weigh 3mg so it is too small to stimulate the trap.
What happens if a Venus flytrap catches a mosquito?
When a Venus flytrap catches a prey – whether it is a mosquito or something else – the trap will not fully closed, at least at first. The plant will determine if the bug is worth the effort of digesting.
Can Venus flytraps eat hamburger meat?
If you feed a Venus flytrap some hamburger meat, it will probably die. Venus flytraps are waiting for bugs. feed them anything else, and they don’t go like this. There is way too much energy and protein without bugs in cow meat. How long does a Venus fly trap last?