Armadillos, particularly the Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) common across the southern United States, give birth to young known as kits. These kits are born in litters of identical quadruplets. The diet of these young mammals transitions from an exclusive reliance on mother’s milk to a varied, insect-heavy diet. This change supports the rapid development required for a life of foraging and digging.
The Initial Diet of Nursing Kits
Armadillo kits are entirely dependent on their mother’s milk immediately following birth. This milk is formulated to meet the unique developmental demands of the young armadillo. Unlike the milk of many other mammals, armadillo milk has a high concentration of protein (typically 8 to 11% by weight) and a moderate fat content, with lower levels of sugar.
The elevated protein and mineral content is directly linked to the rapid hardening of the bony carapace, or armor. Casein proteins in the milk bind large amounts of calcium and phosphorus, supplying the necessary building blocks for this skeletal development. Protein also contributes energy needed for the kit’s metabolism during this early growth phase. Kits exclusively nurse until they are approximately seven weeks old, when they begin to explore outside the burrow.
Weaning and Dietary Transition
Weaning marks the gradual shift from a liquid diet to solid foods, beginning around seven weeks postpartum. At this stage, the kits start venturing out with their mother, driven by an instinct to forage. This initial exploration is a learning period where the young armadillos familiarize themselves with the environment and potential food sources.
The transition occurs over a few weeks, with kits becoming fully weaned around three months of age. During this time, they mimic the mother’s feeding behaviors, testing small amounts of the prey she uncovers. This period develops the skills necessary to locate and process the invertebrates that will form the bulk of their adult diet. The mother’s milk continues to provide supplemental energy as the kits’ digestive systems adapt to the new food items.
What Young Armadillos Forage For
Once fully weaned, the juvenile armadillo’s diet mirrors that of the adult, focusing heavily on invertebrates. Armadillos are opportunistic omnivores, but over 90% of the young armadillo’s diet consists of animal matter. Their primary prey includes subterranean insects and larvae, such as beetles, earthworms, termites, and ants.
The young armadillo relies on its highly developed sense of smell to detect prey up to eight inches deep in the soil. Initially, their foraging efforts are less efficient than those of a mature adult because their claws are still developing. They target softer prey or food items closer to the surface. They use their strong legs and claws to dig shallow holes, typically one to three inches deep, before extracting the prey with a long, sticky tongue.
While invertebrates form the core of the diet, young armadillos are not strictly insectivorous. They consume small amounts of secondary food sources, including plant matter, fungi, and occasionally small vertebrates like frogs or lizards. They are also known to scavenge on carrion, but this makes up a minor portion of their overall intake. This insect-dominant diet provides the high protein and fat content necessary to sustain their active, digging lifestyle.