Q. Some species of plants are insectivorous. Why? (UPSC Prelims 2010)
Answer: They are adapted to grow in nitrogen deficient soils and thus depend on insects for sufficient nitrogenous nutrition
Notes: Insectivorous plants like Venus flytrap, pitcher plant, and sundew thrive in nitrogen-deficient soils such as bogs and swamps, where nitrogen is scarce due to waterlogging and low decomposition. They supplement nutrition by trapping and digesting insects, absorbing nitrogen-rich compounds from their bodies. They perform photosynthesis normally but evolved carnivory for this specific nutrient limitation, not shade, vitamins, or evolutionary stasis. This adaptation enhances survival in harsh habitats.