The Insectivorous Animals, are all those that have the particularity of providing or maintaining a food diet supported totally or partially by invertebrates. That is, basically insects, including arachnids, worms and snails. Find out all about them here.
Insectivorous Animals
The insectivorous animals, are those that refer to those Types of animals or species. They have either a partial or complete diet, rich in invertebrate animals. In which the end is to feed on the proteins that these are capable of providing. Being common that the intake is essentially:
- Insects
- Arachnids
- Worms
- Sea Conches
Having the difference that for example there may be species that exclusively feed on insects. While others are a combination of these with vegetables, fruits, stems, leaves, among others. That is, they would be a combination of insectivores and herbivores, or a mixture of insectivore with frugivore (of fruits), with granivore (of grains) or others.
Likewise, there are species of animals that only feed on them during one stage of their lives. Occurring that then they return to the frequent or daily diet. Or on the contrary, they simply change their habit permanently.
For example, those reptiles during their first stage or months of life base their diet on insects. There are also others that, due to the organic caloric requirement of reproduction and breeding, do so only in this phase, among others. Which means, that it behaves as a requirement or complement for a specific need.
Representation in the Ecosystem
It should be noted that insects make up a fundamental link in the food chain. Because of these the necessary animal protein is obtained. Which also has the virtue that they are present in practically all ecosystems on Planet Earth.
Much of the insectivorous animals They are made up of birds. However, many of the insects themselves are also included in the list. As well as amphibians, reptiles, mammals, arachnids, fish and, although it is incredible, also some plants.
An important contribution of this form, manner or diet. It is that through this a balance or regulation is maintained. Of the number of existing pests on the globe. Because to get an idea, the totality of these little animals is remarkably and even unimaginably superior to the human amount.
What are Insects?
Insects are arthropods and it is the most diverse group of animals on Planet Earth. These little ones that have the shape of their differentiated body, divided and established in head, thorax and extremities. Which in turn during their evolution or development undergo a transformation that generates changes in their form, as well as functions. They have in their body:
- a pair of antennas
- One or two pairs of wings
- three pairs of legs
Among its most outstanding classification are:
- Odonata, which have two pairs of wings like dragonflies.
- Dermaptera, which have thin and long antennae that do not unfold, like earwigs.
- Diptera or halteres, which have a pair of wings like flies and mosquitoes.
- Lepidoptera, such as moths and butterflies.
- Hymenoptera, such as ants, bees and wasps.
- Coleoptera, which after its transformation, of the two pairs of wings, only has one pair left.
- Orthoptera, which have special hind legs to jump like grasshoppers and crickets.
- Dictyopterans, such as cockroaches.
Characteristics of Insectivorous Animals
Among the representative or relevant characteristics of the insectivorous animals there are the following:
Strong, corpulent and resistant stomach
To process the food, the insectivorous animal needs to have the strongest and most resistant of the stomachs. Without leaving aside that it must have a certain thickness that allows it to endure and carry the process. This is due to the necessary and high requirement to digest the hard parts of their prey composed of "chitin". Which is an element found in the body of the arthropod that has been ingested.
Also having the particularity that these animals are ingested completely and immediately. Therefore, the stomach must also comply with the grinding process, which is undoubtedly complicated and demanding.
The senses
Animals that have this diet have the facility to locate their prey using their senses. There are some that stand out for their excellent sense of smell, highly developed, with which they can also find their prey even under the ground.
Their vision is still a great virtue, because they are able to see the smallest movement at great distances. Being able to easily find the insect that they will later ingest.
Echolocation is their main mechanism to position or locate their prey, especially at night. Due to the powerful ability to know the environment through the emanation of sounds and the interpretation of the echo.
Modified Language
The insectivorous animalsThey have a completely modified language compared to other animal species. Observing that it is extremely long, as well as sticky (sticky).
An example of this is the one that is displayed to many of the reptiles, Types of birds, mammals and amphibians.
If the animal, on the other hand, does not have a tongue that allows it to take the tiny or small food from a distance. It will not be an impediment to acquire it because in your body you will have another substitute development that will facilitate the same need. As is the case of the Aye Aye Monkey, which has a very thin and long finger, provided with a sharp nail.
Sensitive Hairs
These sensitive hairs, which are called “vibrissae”, are found in some of the following, thus facilitating the detection of the approaching insect that constitutes its prey. These can be located among others in:
- insectivorous plants.
- Mammals (on the head, parts of the limbs or on the lips).
- Birds (at the foot of the feathers of the wings, legs or at the base of the beak).
- Diptera, in its proximity to the oral cavity, among others.
Hunting Methods
The methods used to capture or hunt prey by the insectivorous animals They are very different from each other. Having some like the following:
- Launch the tongue as a shot from a significant distance, allowing the prey to remain attached as a result of its viscosity. As is the one used by frogs and chameleons.
- Through the stalking, pursuit and subsequent capture, of which the ease is emitted by the vibration that the prey produces with its movement. Spiders are excellent at picking up vibrations.
Biologic control
These are carried out through the introduction into the required environment of insectivorous species. With which it is possible to control the high integration of insects in a place.
Where the benefit is that they are not completely exterminated as happens with the use of pesticides or pesticides. But its quantity is reduced, creating a condition and total biological control. In addition to completely lowering costs, as it is something natural.
Examples of Insectivorous Animals
The following are examples of insectivorous animals:
Mammals
Of the existing mammals, more than 400 species are insectivores, which have the exception of being the smallest of the species. Among them are:
- Armadillo
Apart from liking tuberculous roots, this animal is very attracted to small amphibians, reptiles, as well as insects. Where the delicacy is mainly made up of earthworms, beetles, termites, ants, worms, larvae, grasshoppers and snails.
- Bat
This is one of the mammals that, depending on the variety, is its diet. Regarding insectivorous bats, these include a powerful diversity in their diet, among which stand out, insects, moths, toads, small birds. Like mosquitoes, other bats, fish, beetles, lizards, moths, among others.
Amphibians
The insectivorous amphibians stand out for having a very sticky tongue, which totally helps them so that the insects stay attached instantly. Example of these are:
- Salamander
This insectivorous amphibian has a predilection for eating coleopterans such as ladybugs and beetles. Gastropods like snails, oligochaetes like earthworms. Great variety of insects, spiders, worms, among others.
- Bull frog
The bullfrog is part of the insectivorous animals that feeds on spiders, bats, small birds, turtles, fish, rodents, snakes. Also lizards, snails, lizards, among others.
Fish
These have a tongue that allows them to hunt their prey, being very good at stalking them. Among these are the following:
- Carp
Apart from feeding on aquatic plants, this fish is highly attracted to insects, worms, earthworms, as well as zooplankton and crustaceans.
- Ax Fish
The hatchet fish includes in its diet, worms, mosquito larvae, shrimp, fruit flies, vinegar flies, among others.
reptiles
Much of the reptiles base their diet on insects. However, there are also those that only feed in this way during their first months of life and then change their habit completely after reaching a certain level of development. Among the insectivorous reptiles are the following:
- Chameleon
The chameleon is one of the insectivorous animals which has a very varied diet, where its predilection is based on crickets, cockroaches, silkworms. As well as fruit flies, lobsters, vinegar flies, wax worms, zophobas and tenebrio larvae, grasshoppers, among others.
- red bellied snake
Aside from feeding on other snakes, they also include frogs, small reptiles, and mammals. As well as lizards, birds, among others.
Birds
The insectivorous birds are very skilled in the art of capturing their prey. For this, they make use of the small sensitive hairs found at the base of their beak, which allow them to capture the vibrations emitted by the flapping of their prey's wings. Its beak is its best clamp, it also helps them when looking for these among the earth. Examples of these birds are:
- Swallow
This insectivorous animal feeds on a varied diet, the most prominent being flies, grasshoppers, flying ants. As well as dragonflies, butterflies, mosquitoes, beetles, crickets, moths, among others.
- Woodpecker
The Woodpecker is a bird that bases its diet on a wide variety of insects, termites, larvae of both ants and beetles. Likewise, he insistently craves worms, adult beetles, Flying ants, Lizards. It complements its diet with fruits, flower nectar, tree sap, among others.
Insects
Insects that behave like insectivorous animalsThey also include vegetables in their diet, including decomposing ones, corpses and even wood. Example of them are:
- Globe Skimmer
This insectivorous insect feeds on flies, moths, mosquitoes, butterflies, bees, mosquito larvae, aquatic insects, tadpoles, small fish. Also mayflies, gnats, small insects, among others.
- Wasps
Wasps, apart from including pollen from flowers, fruits and carrion in their diet. Their preference is based on the larvae of other wasps, small insects, crickets, flies, caterpillars, spiders, among others.
Arachnids
Virtually all arachnids are insectivores, examples of which are the following:
- Tarantula
This arachnid bases its diet on crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches, worms, locusts, fruit flies, silkworms, zophobas. Also moths, honey worms, toads, lizards, rodents, frogs, beetles and other arachnids.
- Scorpion
The scorpion includes in its diet various insects, cockroaches, crickets, lobsters, earthworms, lizards, frogs, beetles, spiders, among others.
Plants
Plants that have the peculiarity of consuming insects are normally recognized as "carnivorous". For them, this food represents a complement to their usual diet, because, like the other plants on Planet Earth, their complete source of energy comes from the process of photosynthesis. Among the plants that are classified as insectivorous are the following:
- Aldrovanda
This aquatic plant, which is commonly identified as a water wheel. It uses its swim bladders to get very close to the surface. It then makes use of its sticky leaves to catch prey, which it ingests with the help of its tooth-encircled lobes. It stands out for including mosquito larvae in its diet, as well as common water fleas.
- Dionaea muscipula
This insectivorous plant, native to the United States of America, is the only species belonging to the monotypic genus Dionaea. It is usually identified with the names of "Dionea flytrap" or "Venus flytrap". Their diet is mainly based on insects such as flies and arachnids. Its digestive process after ingesting the food takes approximately 10 days, which is when it returns to hunt its new prey.
Meaning of Entomophagy
This terminology is the one that describes people who have the inclination to consume both insects and arachnids as part of their food. Where the studies clarify, that for the human organism this represents a gastronomy rich in nutrients of excellent quality. As well as a high protein percentage, of which they also ensure that its flavor is exquisite and unmatched.
Having as the most requested in the dishes, for its representative flavor and never because of food shortages, the beetle with a request percentage of 31%. Butterflies and moths follow with 18%; wasps, bees and ants with 14%. The grasshopper with 13%. Aphids, bed bugs and cicadas with 10% and others with 14%. The countries of habitual consumption are the following:
Mexico, South Africa, Egypt, Somalia, Thailand, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco, Angola, Japan. As well as India, the United States, China, the Central African Republic, Ghana, Cameroon, the Philippines, Australia, among others.
