Dragonflies and moths

[Veild Cham Owner]

I want to start to spice up my male chameleons diet during the summer a little bit more . I plan on collecting some grass hoppers for him, which he's had before and passed perfectly fine but I was thinking about dragonflies in the common white moths that you see on your window at night . Would the moths in the dragonflies be on for him to eat?

 

[AZChamFan]

I'm sure others will chime in but I do know that dragonflies can have pretty powerful biting mouths - they catch and eat other bugs for a living! They are also quite flexible and I would be concerned the cham would possibly grab the dragonfly on the abdomen resulting in the dragonfly bending over and biting an eye or something (even though chams usually aim for the head sometimes they are off!) If your cham is not terribly picky you could always partially kill the dragonfly first. Just my thoughts - maybe I'm being overly paranoid! A hornworm can bite a cham this way as well so there's some risk with many feeders and serious bites don't happen too often. Maybe just be careful with the really big dragonflies. Seems like they would be safe to feed otherwise.

Of course there is the obvious concern of pesticides when feeding wild bugs - dragonflies caught out at a woodland lake somewhere would be safer than those from a city.

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

I have fed many a dragonfly to my Parsons chameleons without any problems. They realy get attracted to the iratic movements of the dragonflies!

 

[Carlton]

Dull colored night flying moths can be OK, but again, if there are any ongoing pesticide treatments going on in your area be careful. Some moths are agricultural or forestry pests and local agencies may do aerial broadcast applications. To be safe, you could call your local county extension service or dept of agriculture (whatever you happen to have) to see if any pesticides are being used over large areas.

 

[AZChamFan]

I have fed many a dragonfly to my Parsons chameleons without any problems. They realy get attracted to the iratic movements of the dragonflies!

I KNEW there would be someone who's fed dragonflies. Good to hear there haven't been any issues!!!

 

[Veild Cham Owner]

I'm sure others will chime in but I do know that dragonflies can have pretty powerful biting mouths - they catch and eat other bugs for a living! They are also quite flexible and I would be concerned the cham would possibly grab the dragonfly on the abdomen resulting in the dragonfly bending over and biting an eye or something (even though chams usually aim for the head sometimes they are off!) If your cham is not terribly picky you could always partially kill the dragonfly first. Just my thoughts - maybe I'm being overly paranoid! A hornworm can bite a cham this way as well so there's some risk with many feeders and serious bites don't happen too often. Maybe just be careful with the really big dragonflies. Seems like they would be safe to feed otherwise.

Of course there is the obvious concern of pesticides when feeding wild bugs - dragonflies caught out at a woodland lake somewhere would be safer than those from a city.

I have fed many a dragonfly to my Parsons chameleons without any problems. They realy get attracted to the iratic movements of the dragonflies!

Dull colored night flying moths can be OK, but again, if there are any ongoing pesticide treatments going on in your area be careful. Some moths are agricultural or forestry pests and local agencies may do aerial broadcast applications. To be safe, you could call your local county extension service or dept of agriculture (whatever you happen to have) to see if any pesticides are being used over large areas.

Thank you all so much for the replies!! Our town is very into our woods and wildlife and pesticide spreading is the last thing we worry about. I have never seen the town come around and spray, only people themselves would spray their own laws (we don't) The only throw fertilizer on our grass in the beginning of the spring and then let the grass grow by itself . Looks like my cham will have an interesting diet this summer yay!

 

[jamest0o0]

Thing is dragonflies eat other bugs, which mean whatever those bugs ate(God knows what) will go to your cham. They especially like mosquitos which are disgusting. Most dragonflies can't break skin with their teeth so should be np there. Overall, you're most likely fine, but there is a risk that the dragonflies you feed ate something w/ pesticides or other nasty stuff in their travels. They are also larvae for YEARS in streams which could have harmful chemicals in them.

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

Thing is dragonflies eat other bugs, which mean whatever those bugs ate(God knows what) will go to your cham. They especially like mosquitos which are disgusting. Most dragonflies can't break skin with their teeth so should be np there. Overall, you're most likely fine, but there is a risk that the dragonflies you feed ate something w/ pesticides or other nasty stuff in their travels. They are also larvae for YEARS in streams which could have harmful chemicals in them.

Point well taken! Where I live rural, (way out in the boondocks) none of this is a problem!

 

[jamest0o0]

Not trying to disagree or anything, I'm sure it's fine just figured I'd add that. I just happened to read an article about dragonflies and used to catch their larvae in streams as a kid. Badass things can even eat fish!

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

Cicadas, similarly can be up to approximately 14 years old by the time they are out and about!

 

[AZChamFan]

I'm wondering if everyone is talking about the big beefy powerful types of dragonflies or the more delicate damselflies which are so much easier to catch. The bigger dragonflies have quite a set of jaws on them, at least the ones I've caught! Regarding their safety in this regard I think it will somewhat depend on what type of cham you are feeding. I would not handle the dragonflies I have here by hand due to their bite (not in such a way they could reach and bite me anyways!) and although I would probably not hesitate to feed them to my big Verrucosus or a large panther or veiled (seems to be the OP's species), I would not personally risk offering them to my smaller Jackson's.

 

[Veild Cham Owner]

Thing is dragonflies eat other bugs, which mean whatever those bugs ate(God knows what) will go to your cham. They especially like mosquitos which are disgusting. Most dragonflies can't break skin with their teeth so should be np there. Overall, you're most likely fine, but there is a risk that the dragonflies you feed ate something w/ pesticides or other nasty stuff in their travels. They are also larvae for YEARS in streams which could have harmful chemicals in them.

I wonder if I could keep it in A keeper for a little bit and feed it The crickets that I feed my communion originally so I know anything harmful wouldn't be in his system...

 

[AZChamFan]

I wonder if I could keep it in A keeper for a little bit and feed it The crickets that I feed my communion originally so I know anything harmful wouldn't be in his system...

They normally catch bugs while in flight so it probably wouldn't feed under those conditions. Just keeping it for a few days might allow it to pass the contents of it's stomach but then you lose some of the advantages of feeding wild as well (assuming it's prey was not in contact with anything harmful)! I would think if it is has eaten bugs with pesticides those would enter the dragonfly's system and remain dangerous anyways. Curious as to what the others think!!!

 

[jamest0o0]

I pretty much agree with everything @AZChamFan said

 

[carol5208]

Have fed Dragonflies for years with no problems. I live in South Florida.

 

[Jaycee]

I have fed many a dragonfly to my Parsons chameleons without any problems. They realy get attracted to the iratic movements of the dragonflies!

Where do you get the dragonflies from?!

 

[Jaycee]

I recently bought a Bug Napper, from zoo med, and that thing is awesome! It catches live bugs at night! My chameleons LOVE moths. With that bug napper thing its super easy! especially because moths gross me out to no end. yuck. I'd rather touch a spider than a moth.

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

Where do you get the dragonflies from?!

I live close to a lake. We have dragonflies all over in the summer. They sit on shrubs in the yard and I sweep them up with a net! I am very big on variety for my chameleons! Right now (this time of the year) we have mosquito eaters everywhere! The chameleons love them!

 

[Veild Cham Owner]

They normally catch bugs while in flight so it probably wouldn't feed under those conditions. Just keeping it for a few days might allow it to pass the contents of it's stomach but then you lose some of the advantages of feeding wild as well (assuming it's prey was not in contact with anything harmful)! I would think if it is has eaten bugs with pesticides those would enter the dragonfly's system and remain dangerous anyways. Curious as to what the others think!!!

I might possibly do that . If I am able to even catch one with in the next week with a broken arm, I will update you guys on what has happened to the Cham . Thank you all for the responses!!