Why do some plants eat insects?

Answer: Prey supplies minerals such as nitrogen that are scarce in their soil

Prey supplies minerals such as nitrogen that are scarce in their soil ✓ — Carnivorous plants digest prey to supplement nutrients such as nitrogen in nutrient-poor habitats. They still photosynthesize rather than replacing sunlight with insects. Their traps range from passive pitchers to actively closing flytraps.

Prey is trapped only to stop insects from chewing their leaves — Digesting prey is a nutritional adaptation, not merely a way to stop leaf chewing. The plant absorbs nutrients from captured animals, including insects that would not have eaten its leaves.

Prey replaces sunlight as their only source of energy — Prey does not replace photosynthesis as these plants’ only energy source. Capturing animals mainly helps meet mineral nutrient needs that their habitat supplies poorly.