Insect Eating in Nonhuman Primates

Species in each family within the primate order consume insects. Although some species specialize in eating insects, considered insectivores, many primates utilize insects as a supplement to their diets otherwise comprised of a combination of leaves and fruit. Patterns of insectivory in these “non-insectivorous” primates may help unveil how eating insects may attenuate nutritional inadequacies. Interestingly, there is good evidence of female primates consuming more insects than their male counterparts. This pattern is well recognized for tool-using chimpanzees and orangutans, but similar evidence from other primates such as capuchins and mangabeys suggests that this is not related to difference in tool using preferences between the sexes but rather may be due to different dietary requirements.