Armadillos are unique mammals known for their bony armor. Native to the Americas, the nine-banded armadillo has significantly expanded its range across the southern United States. Many wonder about their diet, especially given their frequent presence in residential areas and gardens. A common question is whether armadillos consume plants, often due to visible disturbances they cause.
Do Armadillos Eat Plants?
Armadillos are not herbivores and do not consume plants as a significant part of their diet. They are insectivores, eating insects. The misconception that armadillos eat plants often arises from their foraging activities, which disturb garden beds and lawns. While they might occasionally ingest plant matter incidentally, it is not a targeted food.
Their digestive systems are adapted for processing invertebrate protein rather than fibrous plant material. Therefore, observing armadillos in gardens does not mean they are consuming vegetation. Instead, their presence indicates other dietary pursuits.
What Armadillos Really Eat
Armadillos are opportunistic insectivores, consuming a wide variety of soil invertebrates. Their diet consists of insect larvae, like grubs, valued for their abundance and nutrition. They also feed on adult beetles, ants, and termites, using their strong claws to excavate nests and burrows. These invertebrates provide essential protein and nutrients.
Their keen sense of smell helps locate hidden food sources underground. An armadillo can detect insect activity and larvae several inches deep in the soil, without visual cues. Beyond insects, their diet can include other small invertebrates like earthworms, spiders, and even small reptiles or amphibians if encountered. They may also opportunistically consume fungi, certain fruits, or carrion, though these are minor parts of their diet.
Why Armadillos Visit Your Garden
Armadillos frequently visit gardens and lawns to search for soil invertebrates, not to eat plants. Their primary foraging method involves digging shallow, conical holes, typically 1 to 3 inches deep, as they root around for grubs, beetles, and other insects. This digging behavior is driven by their specialized diet and acute sense of smell, allowing them to detect underground prey. Homeowners often observe these characteristic holes or overturned sod, indicating armadillo activity.
The damage to gardens, such as uprooted plants or disturbed mulch, is an unintentional consequence of their digging for food. They are not targeting the plants themselves, but rather the insects living among the plant roots or in the surrounding soil. This explains why a garden might appear damaged after an armadillo visit, even though the animal is not consuming the vegetation. Their presence signals a healthy invertebrate population in the soil, which attracts them.