A carnivorous pitcher plant has been found to drug its prey with a toxic nerve agent before consuming it. Nepenthes khasiana, which grows in nutrient-poor soils, lures insects with sweet nectar secreted along the rim of its pitchers.
Researchers discovered that this nectar contains isoshinanolone, a nerve toxin that disrupts insects’ nervous systems, slowing movement, weakening muscles and triggering excessive grooming. Affected ants often fall into spasms and tumble into the pitcher, sometimes dying before reaching the bottom.
The nectar also includes sugars that absorb water, making the rim extremely slippery and increasing the chance that prey will slide into the trap. Once inside, insects are digested, providing vital nutrients for the plant.
