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.