What Insects Do Rabbits Eat (Worms, Spiders, Crickets, Ants, or Flies)?

For pet rabbits, the world is full of intriguing sights, smells, and tastes begging to be explored. Their sensitive noses lead them on exciting foraging adventures as they hop through yards and gardens. What tempting morsels will they discover today buried in the grass? Perhaps a tender dandelion leaf or a fallen berry? But wait, what is that wiggly creature trying to sneak by unnoticed? A juicy worm? A crunchy beetle? Or a plump cricket just asking to be pounced on? While vegetation may form the bulk of a rabbit’s diet, these inquisitive herbivores are often thrilled to supplement their greens with an occasional insect snack. Read on to learn all about what creepy crawlers tempt the appetite of pet bunnies!

Do Rabbits Eat Insects?

Rabbits are herbivores, meaning they thrive on diets primarily consisting of grasses, leafy greens, vegetables, fruits, and hay. However, rabbits will sometimes eat insects and other small invertebrates to supplement their diet with extra protein. While not a major part of their nutritional needs, rabbits seem to enjoy snacking on certain bugs from time to time.

In the wild, rabbits will forage for a variety of edible insects if they come across them while grazing. Domestic rabbits may also nibble on bugs that make their way into the house or yard. Crickets, grasshoppers, caterpillars, beetles, and earthworms are among the creepy-crawlies that appeal to a rabbit's palate.

Rabbits have sharp eyesight to help them spot moving prey. If they see an insect hopping through the grass, they will quickly pounce and catch it with their front paws or teeth. The rabbit will then nibble or chew on the wriggling bug until it is fully consumed.

While not all rabbits have a taste for insects, those that do seem to relish them as tasty, protein-packed snacks. This occasional insectivorous behavior likely stems from an ancestral need to consume as many calories as possible to survive lean times in the wild.

What Kinds of Insects Do Rabbits Eat?

Rabbits are not exclusively herbivorous and will eat certain insects from time to time. Here are some of the most common bugs and invertebrates that rabbits will readily consume if given the chance:

Crickets – Crickets are a favorite insect snack for many rabbits. These small, jumpy bugs contain good protein and fat content. Rabbits like to grab live crickets in their mouths and crunch down on their crisp bodies. They may eat just a few legs or wings or consume the entire cricket.
Earthworms – Earthworms and other soft-bodied invertebrates like grubs make for easy meals for rabbits when discovered while digging. The moisture and protein in earthworms seems to appeal to a rabbit's taste buds. They will nibble on wriggling worms or slurp them down whole depending on the size.
Caterpillars – Furry caterpillars crawling through the grass present tempting moving targets for rabbits. They will snatch them up and eat them promptly, spines and all. Caterpillars provide a good boost of nutrients to supplement the diet.
Spiders – Small ground spiders and other arachnids may get gobbled up by curious rabbits. They seem less interested in larger spiders, but smaller jumpers and creepy-crawlies wandering into sight will likely get eaten.
Ants – If rabbits chance upon an ant hill, they may take the opportunity to ingest a few ants for the extra protein punch. Ant larvae and eggs also appeal to rabbits. The ants contain beneficial nutrients and minerals.
Flies – Rabbits have quick reflexes and will happily snap up flies and other flying insects that come into range. The wings get chewed or discarded, but rabbits will consume the insect bodies.
Beetles – Crunchy beetles like june bugs, ladybugs, and grub beetles will tempt a rabbit into taking a nibble or two. The chitin shells seem appealing to rabbits, as well as the meaty inner bug.

So while vegetation makes up the bulk of a rabbit's diet, they are opportunistic insect eaters as well if the chance presents itself in their environment. Rabbits seem to favor crispy exoskeletons and squishy bodies when insect hunting.

Are Rabbits Allowed to Eat Bugs?

Many rabbit owners wonder if it is safe or healthy for domestic rabbits to eat insects. As natural omnivores, rabbits are allowed to eat bugs in small amounts as part of a balanced diet. Here are some key considerations around rabbits consuming insects:

Nutritional value – Insects contain concentrated protein and fat. This makes them appealing as occasional snacks for rabbits. Crickets, for example, have about 12-25% protein content. This helps supplement the lower protein levels in greens and hay.
Dental health – Chewing solid insects provides jaw exercise and dental wear for rabbit teeth. Gnawing on crunchy exoskeletons can help keep teeth trimmed.
Wild instincts – Stalking and catching prey satisfies natural foraging behaviors in rabbits. They enjoy exercising their hunting skills even as gentle domestic companions.
Variety – New foods like insects stimulate curiosity in rabbits. A diverse diet prevents boredom and picky eating.
Pest control – Allowing rabbits to eat insects that invade their living spaces, like flies or spiders, provides a natural form of pest control. Less bugs in the home means less need for chemical interventions.

However, there are some precautions to take around rabbits eating insects:

Pesticides – Any bugs that have been exposed to chemical treatments could make a rabbit sick. Be sure insects are from pesticide-free areas.
Parasites – Eating wild caught insects may introduce intestinal parasites. Stick to farm-raised insects sold for animal consumption.
Overeating – Too many insects could lead to digestive upset and diarrhea. Treat them as occasional snacks, not dietary staples.
Choking hazard – Large bugs may pose a choking risk if rabbits try to swallow them whole. Monitor treat time and size.

With proper precautions, occasional insect snacking can be permitted as an enrichment activity for rabbits. Talk to your exotic vet if ever unsure about allowing bug eating.

My Rabbit Keeps Eating Bugs

Some pet rabbits seem intent on hunting down any insects that dare enter their environment. If your rabbit keeps eagerly eating every bug it finds, here are some possible reasons behind this behavior:

Boredom – Rabbits are highly intelligent, social animals that require constant mental stimulation. Going after insects provides excitement and predatory enrichment.
Nutritional needs – The extra protein and minerals from insects may be lacking in diet. Check that rabbit is getting well-balanced nutrition.
Foraging instincts – In the wild, rabbits spend most of their day foraging and grazing for diverse foods. Hunting bugs satisfies natural urge to seek new foods.
Taste preference – Each rabbit has unique tastes. Yours may be an outlier that really enjoys the flavor of occasional insect snacks. Nothing wrong with that appetite!
Texture preference – Some rabbits seem to favor the crunch of insect shells or squishy inner body over uniform pellets and hay.
Habit forming – Successfully catching and eating bugs provides mental reward. Rabbits will repeat behaviors that bring enjoyment.

To curb excessive insect eating:

Provide more enrichment toys and activities to prevent boredom
Limit access to areas where bugs congregate
Distract with favored healthy treats when spotting bugs
Ensure proper diet with veterinarian recommended amounts of high fiber hay, leafy greens, pellets, vegetables and occasional fruits
Use natural insect repellants around habitat to deter pests

Talk to your veterinarian if insect eating remains excessive despite efforts to redirect the behavior. They can check for any underlying issues. Some nibbling is normal, but insects should not become a rabbit’s primary food focus.

How to Stop a Rabbit Eating Insects

If your rabbit's insect snacking starts to seem excessive, here are some effective tips for deterring the behavior:

Remove attraction – Eliminate insect harboring areas and food debris that could attract pests to the habitat. Fix any holes/gaps allowing entry.
Increase supervision – When rabbit is loose, provide toys and interaction to prevent hunting. Limit unsupervised times in insect prone areas.
Distract and divert – Offer favored treats like herbs or fruit when catching rabbit going after bugs to break focus. Redirect to a favored game or toy.
Use insect deterrents – Natural repellents like essential oils, diatomaceous earth, or vinegar around habitat help deter bugs from entering space.
Provide proper nutrition – Ensure rabbit diet includes adequate amounts of pellets, hay, greens, and veggies to curb need to supplement with insects.
Adjust habitat areas – Restrict the rabbit’s access to certain zones where they tend to find the most insects, like basements or garages. Limit free roam times.
Remove rewards – Do not give affection, treats, or interaction right after catching rabbit eating bugs. Ignore the behavior and praise alternative activities.
Check health – Schedule vet exam to ensure excessive insectivore behavior is not related to dental issues, parasites, or other problems.

With diligence and training, the habit of bug eating can be curbed in domestic rabbits. Be patient, as this instinctive foraging behavior may take time to redirect. Work with your exotic vet if concerns arise.

Would a Rabbit Eat Fleas or Ticks?

It is not uncommon for pet rabbits living indoors and outdoors to become infested with fleas, ticks, or mites at some point. These nasty parasites can cause skin irritation, anemia, and transmit diseases. But will a pesky infestation entice a rabbit to nibble on the bugs sucking its blood?

In most cases, rabbits will not deliberately eat fleas, ticks, or mites that are parasites on their own body. Here's why:

Difficult to reach – Rabbits groom themselves frequently but cannot easily nibble every part of their bodies to target the parasites. Their bite range is limited.
Attached pests – Fleas, ticks, and mites embed themselves into the skin, making them difficult to detach and eat.
Biting insects – Ticks and fleas actively avoid and retreat from a rabbit's mouth and teeth while feeding. Self-preservation keeps them from getting eaten.
Blood loss – Rabbits typically will not resort to eating the parasites because they are already compromising the animal's health and causing anemia from blood loss. Removing them is more urgent.

However, rabbits may incidentally ingest some fleas, ticks, or mites while self-grooming. And a very heavy infestation overwhelming the skin could potentially lead a rabbit to nibble at some bugs out of desperation. But this would be quite rare.

The best solution is prevention and prompt parasite control. Be sure to check rabbits regularly for signs of infestation and treat with veterinarian-approved products if found. Do not wait and assume they will self-groom the problem away. Protect them from parasitic bugs.

My Rabbit Chases Flies and Moths

Many pet rabbits seem to delight in stalking and chasing after errant flies or moths that blunder into their habitats. Here's why rabbits engage in hunting after these winged insects:

Prey drive – Rabbits are prey animals, but retain predatory instincts to chase small fast moving creatures. This taps into their foraging nature.
Boredom buster – Chasing darting bugs provides exciting activity to break up boredom and inactivity for confined indoor rabbits.
Mental stimulation – Rabbits enjoy exercising their quick reflexes and tracking skills attempting to catch the flies or moths. It serves as enrichment.
Tasty treat – If rabbits do manage to catch the bugs, they provide a crunchy, protein-packed snack. Success means a food reward.
Pest control – Eliminating invading fly or moth pests from their environment gives rabbits a sense of territory protection.
Zoomies outlet – Frantic fly following lets rabbits run off pent up energy and stress, akin to gleeful zoomie sprints.

While insect chasing provides natural stimulation, make sure your does not become obsessive about it to the point of neglecting meals, play, or bonding time with you. If it seems excessive, try providing more physical and mental enrichment activities to engage your rabbit's energy and predatory drives in a healthy way.

Would My Rabbit Try to Eat Bees or Wasps?

Bees, wasps, hornets, and other stinging, buzzing insects present a painful danger to curious rabbits who might consider them appetizing snacks while hopping through the garden. But will pet bunnies attempt to hunt and eat these unwise prey?

In most cases, rabbits will steer clear of dining on bees, wasps, or hornets. Here's why:

Sting risks – Rabbits associate the buzzing of bees and wasps with potential stings. A sting could be very painful or even fatal, so it's best avoided.
Avoidance – Rabbits rely on stealth and stillness to evade predators. The buzzing insects represent threats best escaped from, not pursued.
Poor visibility – The small sizes and aerial movement of stinging bugs makes capturing them difficult and risky for rabbits. Larger, grounded insects are far easier prey.
Lack of appeal – The hard exoskeletons and ability to sting make bees, wasps, and hornets less appetizing as food sources compared to other insects rabbits may eat.
Plant eaters – As herbivores, rabbits are not adapted to seek out stinging insects and prefer grazing on their favored greens and veggies.

However, young kits or very bold rabbits may still try their luck pouncing at interesting airborne bugs. And occurrences of accidentally swallowing a bee or wasp while eating or grooming could happen on rare occasion. But generally rabbits know to avoid the notorious stinging insects buzzing through their environment.

If you do keep bees on your property, make sure rabbit habitats have escape routes in case of bee swarm activity. Protect your buns from painful lessons about stinging dangers.

Would Eating Spiders (Arachnids) Make a Rabbit Sick?

Spiders rank high on the list of insects and creepy-crawlies that rabbits love to pounce on and consume if given the chance. But could eating spiders pose any health risks or toxicity to rabbits?

In most cases, rabbits can safely eat spiders without adverse reactions. Here's why:

Non-toxic – Common household and backyard spiders prey mainly on other insects. They do not produce toxins at levels dangerous to mammalian predators. Wolf spiders, jumping spiders, and grass spiders are typically harmless.
Small doses – Spiders don't provide a major food source. Rabbits eat them incidentally in low numbers, not in bulk, so don't ingest large amounts of venom.
Digestive process – Rabbit intestinal tracts and enzyme secretions are adapted to neutralize many spider venom proteins and break them down during digestion.
Beneficial proteins – Spider bodies provide a boost of animal proteins and B vitamins that offer nutrition to supplement a rabbit's usual plant diet.

However – certain spider species may pose higher toxicity risks:

Black widow – Potent neurotoxic venom could cause muscle spasms and pain if large amount ingested.
Brown recluse – Tissue destroying necrotic venom could potentially damage mucus membranes.

So while most common spiders are safe and nutritious snacks, rabbit owners should still take precautions:

Avoid areas where venomous spider concentrations are high, like woodpiles.
Clean habitats regularly to deter large or dangerous spider dens.
Contact vet immediately if you suspect spider ingestion is causing your rabbit distress or illness.

Overall though, the chance of a spider snack harming a rabbit is very low, so no need to deter all spider nibbling. Just take sensible safety precautions as you would with any novel food item offered to a pet.

References:

https://rabbitbreeders.us/questions-and-answers/what-insects-do-rabbits-eat-worms-spiders-crickets-ants-or-flies/
https://www.onlinerabbitcare.com/questions-and-answers/what-insects-do-rabbits-eat/