What's eating my venus flytrap?

Venus Flytraps are carnivorous and can catch their own pests, but they are still vulnerable to fungus gnats (which breed in their moist peat soil), aphids on flower stems, and mold in stagnant conditions. Never use pesticides — the plant is extremely chemical-sensitive. Remove pests manually or use distilled-water flushes.

Larvae infest the wet peat/perlite mix and chew roots and rhizomes, causing plant collapse or blackening crowns. Use only pure distilled or rainwater; ensure good airflow; apply a Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) drench — it is safe for carnivorous plants unlike most pesticides.

Tiny soft insects clustered on flower stalks and new trap growth; stunted or distorted flowering stems. Pick off by hand or rinse with distilled water; in persistent cases use a very dilute insecticidal soap solution sparingly — avoid the traps themselves.

Fuzzy gray fungal growth on traps and leaves, especially in cool, humid, stagnant conditions; traps rot and blacken. Improve air circulation; remove all dead or blackened traps immediately; avoid overhead watering; keep leaves dry while maintaining tray water for roots.