A carnivorous pitcher plant has been found to drug its prey with a toxic nerve agent before trapping and digesting it. Nepenthes khasiana produces a sweet nectar around the rim of its pitcher-shaped leaves to attract insects, particularly ants.
Researchers discovered the nectar contains isoshinanolone, a nerve toxin that disrupts ants’ nervous systems, slowing their movement, weakening muscles and causing disorientation. Affected insects often fall into spasms or die outright before slipping into the pitcher.
The nectar also includes water-absorbing sugars that make the rim extremely slippery, increasing the chance prey will slide into the trap. Once inside, insects are broken down by digestive fluids, providing nutrients that help the plant survive in nutrient-poor soil.
