Toads can include bees in their diet. Despite bees’ stinging capabilities, these amphibians are opportunistic predators. Their varied diet includes a range of insects available in their environment.
How Toads Consume Insects
Toads are ambush predators, meaning they typically wait for prey to come within striking distance rather than actively hunting. Their primary method of capturing insects involves a rapid projection of their long, sticky tongue. This tongue is attached at the front of their mouth and can be quickly flipped out to adhere to unsuspecting prey.
Once an insect makes contact, the toad swiftly retracts its tongue, pulling the prey into its mouth. The entire feeding cycle, from capture to swallowing, can occur in less than two seconds. The toad then performs a “hyoid dorsal ascent,” using a cartilage plate to press the tongue against the roof of the mouth, scraping the food into the esophagus. Toads swallow prey whole, as they lack the ability to chew or dismember it.
Toads and Bees: A Specific Predatory Relationship
Toads do consume bees, along with other stinging insects like wasps. While they are not immune to bee stings, toads often manage to swallow the insect before it can sting them. Their sticky saliva helps to quickly immobilize the bee, rendering it less capable of stinging. If a bee does manage to sting a toad, it can cause pain, but it is generally not life-threatening.
If stung multiple times, a toad might temporarily avoid stinging insects. However, this avoidance is often short-lived, with toads resuming consumption after a period, sometimes as little as two weeks. As opportunistic feeders, toads will target bees if they are a readily available food source. They typically target bees foraging on the ground or near exposed nests, avoiding busy beehives where multiple stings could be fatal.
Ecological Role of Toads in Pest Control
Toads play a role as natural predators within their ecosystems, contributing to pest control. Their diverse diet includes a wide range of invertebrates, such as beetles, slugs, snails, crickets, and various types of flies. A single adult toad can consume hundreds of insects each night, benefiting gardens and agricultural settings.
By consuming these pests, toads help protect crops and gardens, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and fostering healthier ecosystems. They also contribute to maintaining ecological balance by regulating insect populations. Beyond pest control, toads are part of the food web, serving as a food source for larger animals like birds and snakes. Their presence often indicates a healthy and balanced local environment.