For a while I’ve been wanting to compile a list of foods that can mimic the diet of general insect and terrestrial arthropod theriotypes, so here’s an attempt at it. I’ve opted to list by diet, but many arthropods will find that multiple apply or that their kintype’s diet changes significantly throughout its life. So consider this a list of suggestions and examples rather than a strict categorization. In addition, every order of arthropod listed here contains a multitude of species with a variety of different diets. Researching your particular species is the best way to know for sure what they eat.
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Detritivores (like isopods, millipedes, or grubs) primarily eat dead and decaying plant matter such as leaves, rotten wood, or flake soil. This can involve a range of crunchy, soft, papery, or flaky textures, but overwhelmingly one color: brown. Here are some foods that may mimic aspects of the detritivorous diet:
• Chips of any kind, but especially plantain chips, as crunchy leaves
• Coconut flakes and chips, or coconut-based cookies like macaroons
• Crispy fried dough, like churros
• Refried beans or mashed potatoes, as rich soil for grubs
• Brown rice
• Bonito flakes
• Bran or flake cereal, especially with chocolate milk
• Empty ice cream cones, crushed up
• Chocolate cake or pastries, mini donuts, mud pie, etc.
• Brisket in gravy, which is surprisingly similar to rotting wood
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Carnivores (e.g. mantids, centipedes, wasps, many kinds of larvae) primarily eat meat. For an insect, this can mean hunting other insects, scavenging dead animals and insects, or being laid as a parasite inside a host. Obviously, any kind of meat fits the bill, but some crunchy or gooey textures — or vegan restrictions — might be covered by other means. Here are some foods that may mimic some aspects of the carnivorous insect diet:
• Human-grade edible insects, such as crickets or ants
• Cylindrical pastries with filling, like jelly donuts, eclairs, or cannoli, to mimic bursting prey like mealworms or aphids
• Gummy insects or other creature shapes
• Dumplings or pasta with filling, like tortellini or ravioli
• Calzones or pizza rolls
• Seaweed sheets, rice paper, or filo dough, to mimic the papery texture of insect wings
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Frutivores (like beetles), nectarivores (like butterflies and bees), and herbivores (like caterpillars) primarily eat fruit, nectar, and vegetables, respectively. This is the easiest and most self-evident to mimic, since our raw produce is the same as theirs. Still, there is some to be said about the method of ingestion:
• Drinking fruit juice, soda, or flavored water with a straw mimics a proboscis or piercing/sucking mouthparts
• Fluted or colored glasses, patterned and textured bowls, or bendy/fun straws can mimic the experience of feeding from plants or flowers
• Eating whole fruit rather than cut fruit, and picking juicier or riper fruit
• Eating raw produce whole with your hands rather than cutting it up, like a lettuce wedge
• Large fruit like watermelon can make you feel smaller
• Milkshakes, to mimic sap or slurry
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I hope this list is helpful for other arthropod therians! Feel free to suggest additions or DM me.
