A carnivorous pitcher plant has been found to drug its prey with a powerful nerve agent before digesting it, researchers have discovered.
The plant, Nepenthes khasiana, produces a sweet nectar along the rim of its pitcher-shaped traps that attracts insects, especially ants. But the nectar is laced with isoshinanolone, a toxic compound that interferes with the insects’ nervous systems, slowing their movements, weakening their muscles and triggering abnormal grooming behaviour.
As the toxin takes effect, the insects lose coordination, often falling into spasms before slipping into the pitcher, where some die outright while others drown in digestive fluids. The nectar also contains sugars that absorb water, making the rim extremely slippery and increasing the likelihood that prey will slide into the trap.
By combining chemical intoxication with a slick surface, the plant efficiently captures insects and gains essential nutrients from nutrient-poor soils.
