Top Ten Best Species/Genus of Carnivorous Plants

The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is a species of carnivorous plant native to subtropical wetlands on the east coast of the United States, in North and South Carolina.

This plant has a structure shaped like a bear trap that can be opened and closed. The inside part of the structure is covered with sensory hair. If an insect or arachnid touches one of the hairs, the trap will close, trapping the insect or arachnid inside, and enzymes will digest it.

Commonly known as bladderworts. They're either terrestrial or aquatic and are found on every continent except Antarctica.

They're the only known carnivorous plants that have bladder traps. Their traps are usually very small and can only catch very small prey like protozoa. The larger traps can trap larger prey like fleas and sometimes small tadpoles. When prey is close enough, the plant opens its "door" to suck in the prey and closes it again. This process happens very fast, in less than a second.

Commonly known as butterworts. They're found throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia.

These plants use their sticky bright green or pinkish leaves to trap insects. While the insect is stuck on the leaf, enzymes on the leaf digest them.

Many species aren't carnivorous during winter, but there are some species that are carnivorous all year.

Commonly known as sundews. They're found on all continents except Antarctica.

These plants have tentacles, each with a tip covered in sweet, sticky liquid. When an insect lands on the tentacles, it gets stuck, and more tentacles cover it, and enzymes digest the insect.

This genus is one of the largest genera of carnivorous plants known, with at least 194 species.

Commonly known as tropical pitcher plants. They're found in China, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Madagascar, Seychelles, Australia, India, Borneo, and Sumatra.

These plants have pitfall traps. They each have a structure above that prevents raindrops from falling inside their trap (though sometimes raindrops still enter the trap). The colors and nectar-like smell produced by these plants attract insects. Insects fall inside the trap and are digested by enzymes.

The largest species, Nepenthes rajah and Nepenthes rafflesiana, have been known to trap small mammals like mice. These plants were given the nickname "monkey cup" because sometimes monkeys drink rainwater trapped inside their pitchers.

Commonly known as North American pitcher plants. Most species are found on the eastern seaboard.

These plants are similar to the genus Nepenthes. However, plants from this genus grow on the ground and are longer and shaped like pipes, while plants from the genus Nepenthes hang from trees.

The waterwheel plant (Aldrovanda vesiculosa) is a species of aquatic flowering carnivorous plant native to Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.

Its trap is similar to the Venus flytrap's, but it is smaller and underwater since it is aquatic.

This plant is extremely endangered.

The cobra lily (Darlingtonia californica) is a species of carnivorous plant native to Northern California and Oregon.

This plant is a species of pitcher plant. Once an insect enters the trap, it will close the exit hole and show false exit holes. The insect will get tired after trying many false exits and fall into the trap.

There's another species that shares the same technique of trapping prey, the parrot pitcher plant (Sarracenia psittacina).

Brocchinia reducta is one of the few species of carnivorous bromeliads native to southern Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, and Guyana.

The leaves of this plant reflect ultraviolet light, which attracts insects. It has a water-storing cup, like other Brocchinia species. The water smells sweet, which attracts insects as well. The scales of the leaves are loose, providing a poor foothold for insects that land on it. The insects slip into the cup of water, drown, and are digested by enzymes.