Insectivorous Animals: Definition, Traits & Examples

Across the animal kingdom, many mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, arachnids—and even some insects themselves—depend on insects as their main or an important food source. This article explains what insectivores are, highlights their key adaptations, provides a practical example list by taxonomic group, and adds concise sections on carnivorous (insectivorous) plants and human entomophagy for a well-rounded, publish-ready overview.

(Plus carnivorous plants and human entomophagy)

Contents

• What are insectivores? (definition)

• Key characteristics

• Example list by group
  — Birds • Reptiles • Mammals • Amphibians • Fishes • Insects • Arachnids

• Insectivorous (carnivorous) plants

• What is entomophagy?
  — Where it’s common • Most-eaten insect groups

• Summary

What are insectivores? (definition)

Insectivores (Spanish: insectívoro; also entomófago) are organisms that feed mainly on invertebrates, especially insects, but often also spiders, snails, and worms. Because insects are extraordinarily abundant in almost every ecosystem, they form a crucial base of many food webs.

Not all species are strictly insect-only: some are seasonal or life-stage insectivores—for example, many birds switch to insect-rich diets during breeding, and some reptiles feed mostly on insects when young.

Key characteristics of insectivores

• Robust digestion: Many can handle chitin, the tough material in arthropod exoskeletons (thicker stomach walls, specialized enzymes, or gut microbiota).

• Acute hearing; echolocation in some: Bats famously use echolocation to find flying insects at night; many small mammals and birds rely on keen hearing.

• Vision vs. olfaction: Nocturnal insectivores often have modest vision but excellent smell; flexible snouts and sensory whiskers help locate prey.

• Specialized “tools”:

• Long, adhesive tongues (anteaters, pangolins, numbat; many lizards and frogs; some birds) for rapid prey capture.

• Beak/teeth adaptations: e.g., pointed beaks for pecking or aerial “hawking”; reduced teeth in some mammal specialists.

• Locomotion & foraging: Many small ground mammals are plantigrade (heel-to-ground). Foraging strategies include aerial hawking, sallying from perches, ambush, and leaf-litter probing.

• Bird “bristles” (rictal vibrissae): Sensitive whisker-like feathers near the beak help some birds detect and intercept flying insects.

Note: The examples below include specialists (nearly all-insect diet) and broad insectivores/omnivores that eat substantial insects during certain seasons or life stages. Lists are for outreach and are not exhaustive.

Example list of insectivores (by group)

Birds

Swallow, Robin, Sparrow, Goldfinch, Woodpeckers, Nightingale, Blackbird, Hoopoe, Greenfinches, Flycatchers (Old World), Tyrant flycatchers (New World), Bee-eater, Parulid warblers, Lark, Starling, Thrush, Magpies (some species), Chickens and Turkeys (omnivorous overall, but often heavy insect feeders during breeding/raising young).

Reptiles

Many reptiles are insectivorous when young and broaden their diet as adults.
Crocodilians (juveniles), Chameleons, Geckos (house geckos, day geckos, etc.), Iguanas (some species/ages), snakes such as red-bellied snakes, Chionactis, Ficimia, Sonora, Liopeltis, Tantilla, Gyalopion, Opheodrys (green snakes); lizards and relatives including Ameiva, Blanus (amphisbaenians), Thorny devil (Moloch), Cophosaurus, Anniella (legless lizards), common/ash/long-tailed/rock lizards, glass lizards, bog lizard, Cordylus (girdled lizards), Bipes (two-legged amphisbaenians), Cnemidophorus (now often Aspidoscelis), Sceloporus (spiny lizards), Urosaurus, Xantusia.
Correction note: Dendrocopos is a woodpecker genus (a bird), not a reptile.

Mammals

Anteaters, Aardvark, Pangolins, Numbat, Bats (many species), Hedgehogs, Shrews, Moles, Desman, Tenrecs, Meerkat, Mongooses, Armadillos, Bushbabies/Galagos, Tarsiers, Sugar glider.
Often omnivorous/variable (insects important but not primary in all contexts): raccoons, mice, prairie dogs, American mink, African porcupines, etc.

Amphibians

Salamanders and newts; frogs and toads such as Cane toad, European green frog, American bullfrog, Common frog, Green toad, Fire-bellied toad, Spadefoot/painted toads, Midwife toad, Natterjack toad.

Most amphibians feed chiefly on insects and other small invertebrates.

Fishes

Many freshwater fishes rely heavily on aquatic insects/larvae, especially as juveniles: Carps, Cichlids, Rainbowfish, Pufferfish, Catfish, Bettas, Killifishes, Hatchetfishes, Mormyrids, Cypriniforms, Serrasalmids, Poeciliids, Archerfishes (Toxotidae).
Common names like “mojarra/palometa” vary by region and may span multiple taxa.

Insects that eat other insects

Predatory/parasitoid insects include dragonflies, lady beetles, wasps, mantids, many beetles, true bugs, lacewings; numerous ants (bullet ant, large yellow ant, acrobat ant, pharaoh ant, thief ant, big-headed ant, field/corn ants); antlion (actually the predatory larva of certain lacewings). Some flies are also predatory or parasitoid.
(Bees are primarily pollinivorous/nectarivorous, but certain species/stages can be predatory or scavenging.)

Arachnids (spiders & allies)

Black widow, Brown recluse/violin spider, Huntsman spiders (giant), Wolf spiders, Redback (Australia), Funnel-web spiders, Camel spiders (Solifugae), and large tarantulas such as king baboon and Goliath birdeater.
Common names vary by region; use scientific names for precision when needed.

Insectivorous (carnivorous) plants

Some plants obtain nutrients by trapping and digesting insects (and other tiny invertebrates), an adaptation to nutrient-poor habitats. Traps may be active (movement), semi-active, or passive (lures via scent, color, nectar). After capture, plants secrete enzymes to digest prey. Rarely, very small vertebrates (e.g., tiny lizards or mice) may be taken.

Representative genera: Nepenthes (tropical pitcher plants), Genlisea (corkscrew plants), Pinguicula (butterworts), Byblis (rainbow plants), Heliamphora (marsh pitchers), Cephalotus (Australian pitcher), Drosera (sundews), Aldrovanda (waterwheel), Darlingtonia (cobra lily), Sarracenia (North American pitchers), Drosophyllum, Triphyophyllum, Dionaea (Venus flytrap), Utricularia (bladderworts).

What is entomophagy?

Entomophagy is the human consumption of insects (and sometimes arachnids). Beyond taste and culinary traditions, insects are appreciated for high-quality protein, useful fats, micronutrients, and a lower environmental footprint compared with many conventional meats. Some insects are considered delicacies (e.g., certain ant or fly eggs in Mexico).

Food-safety note: Source insects from reputable suppliers, ensure proper processing, and be aware of allergy risks (people allergic to shellfish may also react to insect chitin/proteins).

Where entomophagy is common

Mexico, China, Brazil, South Africa, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Somalia, Cameroon, Angola, Thailand, Philippines, Japan, Chile, Australia, India, Uruguay, United States, among others.

Most-eaten insect groups (share of recorded species)

• Beetles: 31%

• Butterflies & moths (Lepidoptera): 18%

• Bees, wasps & ants (Hymenoptera): 14%

• Grasshoppers & relatives (Orthoptera): 13%

• Aphids, cicadas, true bugs (Hemiptera): 10%

• Other orders: 14%

Summary

• Insectivory ranges from strict specialization to seasonal or life-stage reliance on insects.

• Insectivores help regulate insect populations and stabilize food webs; many are beneficial near farms and settlements.

• Carnivorous plants showcase striking adaptations to nutrient-poor habitats.

• Human entomophagy blends culture, nutrition, and sustainability—growing in visibility worldwide.

For more, explore our site sections on Wild Animals, Amphibians & Reptiles, Arthropods, and Carnivorous Plants.

animal tags： insectivorous animals