Moles are subterranean mammals known for their extensive tunneling systems. They possess specialized adaptations for life below the surface, particularly in how they locate and consume their diet. This article will explore the specific food sources of moles, address common misconceptions about their eating habits, detail how they find their meals, and briefly touch on their broader ecological contributions.
Primary Food Sources
Moles are insectivores, primarily eating insects and other invertebrates found in the soil. Earthworms form the largest and most important part of a mole’s diet. Moles are highly efficient at detecting and capturing these worms as they tunnel through the soil.
Beyond earthworms, moles also consume a variety of other underground invertebrates. This includes grubs (beetle larvae), along with slugs, snails, ants, spiders, centipedes, and millipedes. These protein-rich sources are abundant in the moist, loose soil where moles live, providing energy for their high metabolism. A mole can consume a significant amount of food daily, sometimes eating 60% to 100% of its own body weight.
Common Dietary Misconceptions
A frequent misunderstanding about moles is that they consume plant roots or garden vegetables. Moles are not herbivores; their diet consists of animal matter. Therefore, they do not directly eat plant roots, bulbs, or other vegetation.
Any damage to plant roots or gardens is typically an indirect result of their tunneling. As moles dig their intricate networks, they can disturb or sever plant root systems, leading to wilting or decline of the affected plants. This damage is often mistakenly attributed to moles eating the plants. Voles, vegetarian rodents, primarily consume plant roots and can sometimes utilize mole tunnels.
How Moles Find and Consume Food
Moles rely on their acute senses of smell and touch to locate prey in their dark, underground environment, as their eyesight is poor. Their sensitive snouts are equipped with thousands of specialized sensory receptors called Eimer’s organs, which help them detect vibrations and chemical signals from prey. The star-nosed mole, for instance, has over 25,000 such organs on its unique snout, making it exceptionally adept at sensing its surroundings.
Their extensive tunnel systems act as traps, with prey falling into or moving through these underground pathways. Moles regularly patrol these tunnels, collecting any earthworms or insects they encounter. Moles also paralyze abundant earthworms by biting their heads, storing them in specialized underground chambers for later consumption. This ensures a steady food supply, particularly when food is less plentiful.
The Ecological Role of Mole Feeding
While their tunneling can be disruptive to lawns and gardens, moles play a beneficial role in the ecosystem through their feeding habits. By consuming large quantities of grubs and other insect larvae, they contribute to natural pest control. Their constant burrowing also helps aerate the soil, improving its structure and promoting water infiltration. This aeration and mixing of soil layers enhance nutrient cycling, supporting overall soil health and plant growth.