Moles are small, subterranean mammals known for their powerful digging ability, which allows them to create extensive tunnel systems beneath the soil surface. They belong to the order Eulipotyphla, placing them in the same group as shrews and hedgehogs, not rodents. Moles spend their lives almost entirely underground, hunting constantly to support a high-energy lifestyle. This constant tunneling and foraging often leads homeowners to question their diet, which is frequently misunderstood, particularly regarding the consumption of insects like grasshoppers.
The Core of a Mole’s Diet
Moles are insectivores, meaning their diet is overwhelmingly composed of animal matter, specifically invertebrates found within the soil. Due to their remarkably high metabolism, they must consume between 50% and 100% of their body weight in food daily just to survive. This constant need for sustenance drives the continuous excavation of underground foraging tunnels.
The staple of the mole’s diet is the earthworm, often accounting for 80% to 90% of their total intake by weight. They also feed heavily on insect larvae (grubs), centipedes, slugs, and other small arthropods encountered while burrowing. Moles use their tunnels as passive traps, patrolling them regularly to collect any invertebrate that falls in or crosses their path.
A fascinating part of their hunting behavior is the ability to paralyze and store prey for later consumption. Moles achieve this by delivering a bite to the earthworm’s head segment, which contains nerve centers, effectively paralyzing the worm without killing it. These living, immobile earthworms are then stored in special underground chambers, sometimes called a larder, providing a fresh food source, particularly during winter or periods of low supply.
Addressing Grasshoppers and Other Surface Insects
Since moles live almost exclusively below ground, surface-dwelling insects like grasshoppers are not a targeted or primary food source for them. The mole’s specialized forelimbs are adapted for digging, not for chasing agile prey above the soil.
However, moles are highly opportunistic predators and will readily consume any protein source they can catch. A grasshopper or other surface-dwelling insect, such as a ground beetle or spider, may be eaten if it accidentally falls into an open mole tunnel or is caught near a surface entrance. These occurrences are secondary catches, supplementing the main diet of worms and subterranean larvae.
The tunnels themselves are the defining feature of the mole’s feeding strategy, acting as an extensive network of traps that intercept soil-dwelling prey. While a mole will not typically dig a tunnel specifically to catch a grasshopper, the extensive network ensures that any creature that ventures below ground is a potential meal. The consumption of surface insects is therefore a matter of chance and availability, rather than a regular part of the mole’s foraging routine.
Debunking Common Diet Myths
One of the most persistent misconceptions about moles is that they consume plant roots, bulbs, and other vegetation, causing direct damage to gardens. Moles are insectivores, and their digestive systems are adapted for a diet of animal protein, not plant matter. They do not possess the gnawing teeth characteristic of rodents, which are necessary for eating tough roots.
The damage to plants that homeowners observe is usually an indirect consequence of the mole’s tunneling activity. As the mole excavates its runways, it can sever or disturb the root systems of plants, leading to wilting and death. Furthermore, other small mammals, such as voles (which are rodents and do eat plant roots and bulbs), often utilize the pre-existing mole tunnels for easy access to vegetation. Therefore, the mole is often incorrectly blamed for the plant destruction caused by a different animal entirely.