LILSTAROFLOVE
New Member
Can they eat lighting bugs ?
Can they eat lighting bugs
- Thread starter LILSTAROFLOVE
- Start date
Trillian
New Member
Damnit... I was going to ask that. My yard is full of them, we don't get them in the UK, that I have ever seen, wanted an excuse to fill jars with them! My 6 year-old-daughter came downstairs at 10pm having spent 2 hours watching these lights, convinced our yard was full of fairies!
pamnsam94
Established Member
It seems that they are toxic to many reptiles and amphibians, so they are too risky to try feeding with any herps unless you are absolutely sure they won't cause harm. However, I will say that when I was a young teen, I fed a lot of them to either young green frogs (Rana clamitans) or young bullfrogs. I can't remember which, even though I knew, even then, how to tell the difference between the young of both species. I remember how funny it was seeing the bellies of the young frogs blink on and off (the frogs of course swallow their prey whole without chewing). 
If I remember correctly, I kept those frogs for a couple of weeks, and I never saw any ill effects from them eating the lightning bugs. It wouldn't surprise me if both green frogs and bullfrogs are not harmed by the insects, at least in the quanties I fed them, because it is a prey item that is probably frequently encountered in the frogs native ranges. I wonder about whether other native frogs, like gray treefrogs, might show a similar resistance.
If I remember correctly, I kept those frogs for a couple of weeks, and I never saw any ill effects from them eating the lightning bugs. It wouldn't surprise me if both green frogs and bullfrogs are not harmed by the insects, at least in the quanties I fed them, because it is a prey item that is probably frequently encountered in the frogs native ranges. I wonder about whether other native frogs, like gray treefrogs, might show a similar resistance.hydrophyte
New Member
Lightning bugs are highly toxic.
Most insects with that combination of dark black with yellow, orange or red coloration are either toxic to eat or with venomous stings.
Most insects with that combination of dark black with yellow, orange or red coloration are either toxic to eat or with venomous stings.
Swayne8998
Established Member
If you want a dead cham, then yes. Extremely toxic bugs really to most reptiles.
