Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Much publicity was made over the fact that fireflies are poisonous to bearded dragons several years ago. What about poisonous insects for chameleons? Are there any that are known to be poisonous to chameleons? Specifically, fireflies? Generally, others? Thanks. -Larry in NYC

Hi Larry,

Fireflies, milkweed bugs, monarch butterflies and their caterpillars are all toxic. A rule of thumb - if you are not sure, do not feed it. A rule of your other thumb black & orange/red/yellow are typically a sign in nature that says, "If you eat me you will get sick or die.” Some of these insects become toxic b/c of the host plant they eat but others, like fireflies, produce the toxic chemical themselves. The chemical that produces the light, luciferin, is toxic to many reptiles and other animals, to others they may just taste bad (their colors are black and orange/red).

An interesting note: predators of fireflies in their native environment (where predator and prey have co-evolved) the predator will take its head first and drop off the back end where the "light" is located. The chemical travels thru the entire body so it is clear that b/c of this co-evolution the predator can ingest and metabolize a certain amount of the chemical but the concentration is at the "light" source.

OK, more than you wanted to know, but I always hope others are just as fascinated by this stuff as I am - even though I know you aren't LOL!

lele

here's an article on herps and fireflies

Firefly Toxicity

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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

Thanks for the info. Do others have tghe bad experience of having a chameleon enthusiastically eat one of the listed "posionous" insects and die? I have seen that happen with bearded dragons. -Larry

I haven't heard about this from anyone on this forum but the subject of toxicity has come up. Some herps may be more sensitive than others, too. I really feel sorry for any herp owners that that has happened to How devastating - I just can't imagine! It's too bad that many of us (innocently) think that critters will instinctively know what to eat and what not to and in their native environs they do - most of the time - but in captivity they have not had the opportunity to learn this behavior. It is always best to check before feeding anything new.

lele

>>Thanks for the info. Do others have tghe bad experience of having a chameleon enthusiastically eat one of the listed "posionous" insects and die? I have seen that happen with bearded dragons. -Larry
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

All good on t he rule of thumb as far as orange yellow and red insects.
Also, make absolute sure you don't feed bees & wasps, ladybugs, spiders, ants and anything red orange or yellow (don;t forget about fireflies).

>>All good on t he rule of thumb as far as orange yellow and red insects.
>>Also, make absolute sure you don't feed bees & wasps, ladybugs, spiders, ants and anything red orange or yellow (don;t forget about fireflies).
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta