Do ducks eat insects? Of course, ducks eat insects. They are pretty chill, and they eat insects as a part of their foraging behavior. Since it’s natural for them, it doesn’t create any trouble at all. But be cautious about certain insects such as carpenters and fire ants.
Ducks can consume nearly all sorts of insects except a few. Some of these bugs can be fatal for them! One astonishing fact, nevertheless, is that there are creatures believed to be insects that actually aren’t. We will try to have a deep dive into all interesting facts like that here. Just keep on reading!
Table of Contents
Do Ducks Eat Insects? Insect Alike Creatures As Well!
My immediate response is yes. Ducks can eat insects even if they carry harmful pathogens. Those pathogens won’t bother ducks’ digestion due to their uniqueness.
Are Insects, Bugs, And Pesticides All the Same? No, According to Will County!
No, insects, bugs, and pesticides are not the same. People often get confused about identifying bugs and insects. Bugs are kinda different as they’ve special mouthparts that allow them to consume liquids.
Insects are living creatures like ants and butterflies and can have eight legs – claims a group of researchers from the University of Michigan. Insects can also have antennae in their head.
Bugs are a specific kind of insect with straw-like mouths. According to the researchers of Will County, bugs go through an incomplete metamorphosis. So, the confusion is quite legit as they will get insects when they’re adults but are a bugs when they are children. Pesticides are basically chemicals used to control pests. It can be insects or weeds.
However, it’s not always easy to determine what’s an insect and what’s a bug. That’s not important either. What matters is that ducks can eat all of them.
Recommended Reading: Ants In Ducks Diet
Are Insects Safe for Ducks? Generally Yes
Turns out bugs are A-OK for ducks to eat. When ducks come across bugs, they just gobble them up. Since ducks chow down on both plants and critters, snacking on insects while foraging for food is totally normal for them.
Those insects give ducks good stuff like protein that they need. So all in all, insects are pretty good grub for those quackers. On top of that, ducks raisers see no problem with consuming bugs and insects by their ducks.
I’m not saying insects are completely fine for them. Some insects may cause health difficulties and can have harmful chemicals. For example, the blister beetles and Japanese oriental wasps.
Do Baby Ducks Eat Insects? Yes, But Be Mindful of These 10 Insects
Yes, baby ducks eat insects as well. Insects come with essential nutrients like protein. We know protein helps them in healthy growth and muscle development.
While introducing insects, please consider the size to avoid choking troubles. This is because ducklings have small beaks and throats.
Let’s have a list of insects that can potentially bother ducklings’ health. According to biologist David Rivers, A professor from the University of Loloya, Maryland, the First seven on the list are currently the most venomous insects in the world.
| Insect Name | Region | Threat |
| The Cow Killer | Eastern USA | Painful sting |
| The Red Imported Fire Ant | Southern United States | Painful stings, allergies |
| Blister Beetles | Various regions worldwide | Can cause skin blisters |
| Japanese Oriental Wasp | Asia and parts of Europe | Aggressive stings |
| Black Widow Spider | Worldwide, varying species | Venomous bite, pain |
| Monarch Caterpillar & Butterfly | North America | Toxic when consumed |
| The Brown Recluse | North America | It can cause skin blisters |
| Bullet Ant | Central and South America | The intense pain from sting |
| Carpenter Ant | Eastern US, Southeastern Canada | Painful sting, venom |
| Fire Ants | Various States in the US | Extremely painful. The venoms can even cause death. |
Look, I’m not saying they’re completely risky for baby ducks. Baby ducks may still consume it due to their unique digesting process. However, maintaining a safe approach is always an ideal move.
30 Insects and Insect-Alike Creatures Ducks Eat
Let’s look at 30 popular things ducks eat, which are insects, potentially insects, and to some extent, these are not insects, but people may consider them insects as well.
| Name | Scientific Family | Type | Comment |
| Ant | Formicidae | Insect | Slightly Risky |
| Bee | Apidae | Insect | No issues |
| Butterfly | Various families | Insect | No issues |
| Mosquito | Culicidae | Insect | No issues |
| Dragonfly | Libellulidae | Insect | Safe |
| Grasshopper | Acrididae | Insect | Safe |
| Ladybug | Coccinellidae | Insect | No issues |
| Firefly | Lampyridae | Insect | Practice Precautions |
| Cricket | Gryllidae | Insect | No issues |
| Beetle | Various families | Insect | Safe |
| Moth | Saturnidae | Insect | No issues |
| Wasp | Vespidae | Insect | Ducks do Eat |
| Fly | Various families | Insect | No issues |
| Cockroach | Blattodea | Insect | Safe |
| Praying Mantis | Mantidae | Insect | No issues |
| Aphid | Aphididae | Insect | Yes |
| Spider | Arachnid | Not Insect | Practice precautions |
| Flea | Pulicidae | Insect | No issues |
| Tick | Ixodida | Not Insect | No issues |
| Silverfish | Lepisma saccharina | Insect | No issues |
| Earwig | Forficulidae | Insect | No issues |
| Hornet | Vespidae | Insect | Risky |
| Walking Stick Insect | Phasmatodea | Insect | Safe |
| Weevil | Curculionidae | Insect | Safe |
| Termite | Isoptera | Insect | Tasty treat |
| Lacewing | Chrysopidae | Insect | Safe |
| Stink Bug | Pentatomidae | Insect | Ducks do like stink bugs |
| Carpenter Ant | Formicidae | Insect | Not safe |
| Centipede | Chilopoda | Not Insect | Not preferred |
| Millipede | Diplopoda | Not Insect | Practice precautions |
I have considered the insects that ducks commonly consume. Some of them aren’t insects, actually, but people may think of them as insects. Ducks do eat them all, although some insects are risky for ducks for some reason. We will drag them into the conversation simultaneously.
Related Readings:
Do Ducks Eat Larvae? 7 High Protein larvae for Ducks
Yes, No problem with consuming larvae. I say larvae are premature insects. Ducklings will benefit by eating larvae because larvae are an excellent resource of protein. For better health growth, protein is so important.
Now, let’s talk about some larvae that both ducks and adult ducks eat.
| Larvae Name | Benefits | Ducks That Eat Them | Regions |
| Mosquito Larvae | Protein source Natural control of the mosquito population | Many duck species | Worldwide |
| Mayfly Larvae | High protein content | Dabbling ducks, diving ducks | Various regions |
| Caddisfly Larvae | Protein Energy source | Mallards, teal | North America, Europe |
| Dragonfly Nymphs | Nutrient-rich | Various diving ducks | Various regions |
| Water Beetle Larvae | Rich in protein and fats | Many species of ducks | Worldwide |
| Phantom Midge Larvae | High in protein | Diving ducks, teal | North America, Europe |
| Damselfly Larvae | Protein source, aquatic foraging | Various duck species | Various regions |
Some insects are available in North America and Europe, while others are available worldwide. So, insects are found everywhere in the world, and ducks consume most of them. Almost all of them are potentially a good resource of protein, which is great for ducklings!
Do Migratory Ducks Eat Insects? Certainly!
Migrating ducks eat bugs just like other ducks do. Insects give them a boost of protein when they’re flying long distances.
When migrating ducks stop at wetlands, they look for tasty plants, larvae, and insects to snack on. Eating those bugs is like powering up with a protein bar for us humans. Insects make a great nutrient-packed power snack to keep the ducks going on their journey. They eat those insect snacks to fuel up before continuing their long migrations.
The migrating ducks most likely to munch on insect snacks at wetlands are:
- Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
- Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
- Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)
- Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)
- American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)
Related Reads:
Do Farming Ducks Eat Insects?
When you have ducks on a farming setup, specialized duck feeds are the way to go. It’s not ideal to stray from this approach. When ducks are raised for economic reasons, isn’t it important to be both careful and smart?
However, I’m not implying you can’t feed them insects. But please do consider their accustomed behavior. They may show unexpected responses if they aren’t used to consuming insects.
My suggestion is to achieve fast growth; duck pellets are the key to speeding up their development.
The Apocalypse Relativity on Ducks And Insects in Wetland Ecosystem
In 2021, the Guardian published news titled the insect apocalypse. They claim insects have increasingly declined in number, 75% to be more specific, in the last 50 years. The world will not be the same without them. Is that true? Let’s drag the ecosystem here to make things clearer.
Ducks and Insects in Wetland Ecosystem
Ducks and insects are quite an essential part of the wetland ecosystem. Ducks eat plants and insects. They potentially help to control plant growth and spread seeds. In addition, their droppings provide nutrients to the water plants and tiny creatures.
Insects aren’t a small deal here, either. They pollinate wetland plants and break down dead stuff. Also, they’re the prey for many birds like ducks and other animals.
Together, ducks and insects keep the ecosystem balanced and smooth. If they’re both right in number, it will be a perfect harmony for the ecosystem.
The Apocalypse And Its Consequences
According to national geography, insects are alarmingly declining. This isn’t something good. They’re mostly suffering from deforestation, industrial agriculture, and all that. However, if it keeps on happening, the earth will not be the same.
A National Geographic article sheds light on a startling fact: Our own survival could be in jeopardy if these insects decline. You can’t really deny it as they (insects) constitute a crucial dietary choice for these inhabitants.
Recommended Reading: What Do Ducks Eat
Summary of the Study
Ducks, regardless of species, breed, and type, eat insects. In general, insects are a tasty and nutritious treat for them as well, packed with nutrients like protein, vitamins, and minerals.
For farming ducks, duck pellets will bring more benefits as you’re raising them for economic purposes. However, according to some research, insects are alarmingly decreasing because of deforestation and industrial agriculture.
Want to know my opinion on that matter? I will suggest eating insects is a part of your ducks’ foraging habit. So, just let them eat if they find it themselves.
Sources And References:
- http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Insecta/
- https://www.si.edu/spotlight/buginfo/bugnos
