In this episode, hosts Dustin Bean and Joy Matlock are joined by Hannah Baker to discuss the often-overlooked world of bugs. The conversation features a special appearance by Miguel, a three-banded armadillo, to illustrate the direct link between mammals and their insect-based diets.
Key Discussion Points
- Meet Miguel the Armadillo:
- Miguel is a three-banded armadillo, a species from South America capable of curling completely into a ball for protection.
- Unlike the nine-banded armadillos common in Arkansas, three-banded armadillos can "snap" their shell closed to potentially pinch a predator's paw.
- His shell is called a carapace, made of bony plates known as osteoderms covered in keratin.
- The Insectivore Diet:
- As an insectivore and omnivore, Miguel relies on a sharp sense of smell to find bugs several inches underground.
- He uses a long, sticky tongue and sharp claws to extract insects, similar to his close relatives, the anteaters and sloths.
- Behind the Scenes: The "Bug Room":
- The Little Rock Zoo maintains a dedicated "Bug Room" to breed and raise food for its animals.
- The facility produces approximately 8,000 crickets and 35,000 mealworms per week.
- The largest consumers of bugs at the zoo are the sloth bears, which use their lack of front incisors to "slurp" up insects.
- The Importance of Invertebrates:
- Bugs serve as the "infrastructure" of the ecosystem, acting as pollinators, decomposers, and a primary food source.
- A global decline in insect populations threatens the entire food chain.
- The episode highlights the danger of invasive species, such as the hammerhead worm, which preys on essential native earthworms.
Tips for Supporting Local Pollinators
- Plant Native: Choose native plants for your garden to support local insect species.
- Leave the Leaves: Keeping leaf litter in your yard provides a habitat for various bugs and animals.
- Create Spaces: Designate a small section of your yard to grow wild as a pollinator garden.
Bugtopia runs from March 21st through September 20th at the Little Rock Zoo, allowing guests to see the world from a bug's perspective and appreciate the "giants" of the tiny world.
