June Beetles

[jelkins]

If you don't treat your lawn with pesticides and have an outside nightlight, June beetles, Phyllophaga sp. are a readlily available and eagerly consumed food source for these frogs.

These beetles and similar species are the primary reason for the cane toad introductions in Austrailia and other countries where their larval forms damaged sugar cane crops.

They're easy to collect.

[Eric Walker]

First off, what kind of frogs are you talking about? I would be VERY worried about the nasty pinchers that they have, not to mention that they have a VERY hard exoskeleton. I would never feed any of my frogs anything from outside. even if you dont use chemicals on you lawn there is the fear of introduceing other nasties like parasites to your frogs.

[clownonfire]

First off, what kind of frogs are you talking about? I would be VERY worried about the nasty pinchers that they have, not to mention that they have a VERY hard exoskeleton. I would never feed any of my frogs anything from outside. even if you dont use chemicals on you lawn there is the fear of introduceing other nasties like parasites to your frogs.

Hi Justin, I agree with Eric. Bugs from the outside can carry parasites, and you have no clue what they have been in contact with. That in itself for me is a no-go.

Funny enough, lately our cats have been bringing June beetles in the house and they have quite the exoskeleton as Eric mentioned... It would be hard for most frogs to digest...

Eric

[LilyPad]

I was thinking the same thing about the exoskeleton... My 12 y/o cat who is missing 3 teeth has trouble chomping them down, I can't imagine feeding them to a froggy.

[pac]

The cane toads couldn't even reach the cane beetle so they weren't no help I they said I wouldn't take nothing from outside they could kill your frog with there pinchers

[jelkins]

Obviously I'm refering to horned frogs considering I posted under this forum. I've currently been feeding them to my African Bullfrog without issue.

As far as parasites are concerned I've supplement the diets of many of my amphibians with purchased and wild collected food for years without issue and with great results. Collection location and knowledge of the species you're using as feeders is implied.

If you look up the species of beetle I'm referencing you'll see they have no large mandibles whatsoever. These frogs can easily handle them and much larger prey.

Additionally, I wasn't implying that the cane toads solved the issue, but stating that these types of beetles are a natural part of their diets.