Chitin in insects is a natural component of their exoskeletons, providing structural support like cellulose in plants. The presence of chitin in insects is important because it can impact their digestibility and nutritional value.
Knowing the chitin content of different insect species can help you make better decisions about your bearded dragon’s diet.
This article is based on research by Eggink et al. (2023) and Finke (2007), which examined chitin in insects of various species. The studies measured chitin in insects using multiple methods, confirming that chitin content increases as the insects mature.
Jump To…
Key Points:
- Chitin is insects is a natural part of their exoskeletons, impacting how well your bearded dragon digests its food.
- Younger insects have less chitin than mature insects, making them easier for your reptile to digest.
- Chitin in insects with softer bodies like silkworms or black soldier flies is lower chitin than harder-bodied insects, such as mealworms and crickets.
- Chitin in insects can reduce protein digestibility, but many essential amino acids are still available to your bearded dragon.
- Feeding various insects helps ensure your pet gets a balanced diet while minimizing potential issues with chitin.
- Chitin levels increase as insects mature. Choosing nymphs or larvae can help reduce the amount of chitin in insects your reptile consumes.
- Chitin levels increase as insects grow, so choosing nymphs or larvae can help reduce the amount of chitin your reptile consumes.
Chitin in Insects: Content Breaddown in Feeder Species
| Insect | Chitin (As-Is, mg/kg) | Chitin (Dry Matter, mg/kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Bee Brood | 2.7 | 11.6 |
| Black Soldier Fly Larvae (5d) | 3.8 | 13.0 |
| Black Soldier Fly Prepupae (15d) | 4.3 | 10.7 |
| Silkworm Larvae | 8.4 | 66.6 |
| Black Soldier Fly Pupae (28d) | 8.5 | 22.1 |
| Waxworm Larvae | 15.8 | 38.1 |
| Giant Mealworm Larvae | 19.6 | 55.7 |
| Cricket Nymphs | 20.2 | 81.5 |
| Adult Crickets | 21.5 | 67.6 |
| Adult Mealworms | 49.8 | 137.2 |
What Does Chitin in Insects Mean for Your Bearded Dragon?
Chitin in insects is a part of their exoskeleton. Chitin plays a role in digestion and can affect how well your bearded dragon processes the nutrients in its food. Chitin in insects could make some of the protein less accessible to your reptile due to its fibrous structure. Although chitin in insects can reduce protein digestibility, there is still valuable protein available to your bearded dragon.
Finke (2007) found that the acid detergent fiber (ADF) in insects, which includes chitin, also contains amino acids. This means that while some protein in the insect may be less accessible due to chitin, there are still amino acids in the ADF fraction that can be digested by your bearded dragon.
As insects mature, the levels of chitin in insects increase. Both Finke (2007) and Eggink et al. (2023) confirmed that younger nymphs or larvae have lower levels of chitin than their adult counterparts. By harvesting insects in their younger life stages, you can help reduce the amount of chitin in insects that your bearded dragon consumes, making it easier for them to digest and absorb nutrients.
How Chitin Affects Your Bearded Dragon’s Protein Intake
Chitin in insects is a key component of their exoskeletons, such as crickets, cockroaches and mealworms (Finke (2007). While chitin in insects is indigestible for reptiles like bearded dragons, the overall impact on protein availability is more nuanced. Finke noted that the indigestible material in insects, measured as acid detergent fiber (ADF), also contains amino acids—the building blocks of protein.
This means that while chitin in insects may reduce the digestibility of protein, some of the ADF fraction still contains digestible amino acids. Although chitin in insects can impact how much protein your reptile can absorb, the reduction in nutritional value is not severe. Feeding a variety of insects ensures that your bearded dragon still gets the necessary protein, despite the presence of chitin in insects.in.
Reducing Chitin in Your Bearded Dragon’s Diet
If you’re concerned about your bearded dragon consuming too much chitin, one way to reduce it is by offering softer-bodied insects. Insects like black soldier flies, silkworms, or bee brood contain less chitin compared to harder-bodied species, such as adult mealworms and crickets. By incorporating these softer insects into your bearded dragon’s diet, you can help minimize the intake of indigestible chitin.
Another effective way to lower chitin levels in your bearded dragons diet is by feeding younger insects. Younger crickets, for example, have slightly lower chitin levels than fully grown adults. Opting for nymphs or larvae over adult insects can help make the food easier to digest for your bearded dragon, while still providing essential nutrients.
Is Chitin Harmful?
Excessive chitin intake can reduce nutrient absorption due to its indigestibility and has sometimes been linked to impaction. However, it’s important to first consider factors like:
- Is the bearded dragon being offered a balanced diet?
- Are the temperatures before and after feeding supporting digestion?
- Is the reptile hydrated?
- Is there loose substrate involved?
- Is the reptile healthy?
Insectivorous reptiles have evolved to handle some chitin in their diet, so offering a balanced variety of insects is recommended.
Wrapping It Up: Chitin Levels in Insects
Chitin in insects is a normal part of an insect’s structure and plays a role in how your bearded dragon digests food. While chitin in insects may reduce some protein availability, most of the nutrients in feeder insects remain accessible to your reptile. By feeding a balanced mix of softer, younger insects, you can support your bearded dragon in its nutritional requirements.
References
Eggink, K. M., & Dalsgaard, J. (2023). Chitin contents in different black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) life stages. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, 9(7), 855–863.
Finke, M. D. (2007). Estimate of chitin in raw whole insects. Zoo Biology, 26(2), 105–115.
