In the wild, Western Fence Lizards primarily feed on insects, including ants, beetles, and grasshoppers. They also eat spiders, ticks, and other small invertebrates.
These lizards have been observed using their sharp claws to dig into anthills and scavenge for food. They can eat up to 10% of their body weight in insects daily.
In captivity, Western Fence Lizards are typically fed a diet of live insects, including crickets, mealworms, and waxworms. A good rule of thumb is to provide a varied diet that includes a mix of insects at different stages of development.
It's essential to research and understand the specific dietary needs of Western Fence Lizards, as they have different nutritional requirements at various stages of their life cycle.
What the Western Fence Lizard Eats
The Western Fence Lizard is an insectivore, which means it primarily eats insects. They'll munch on whatever they can find, from mealworms to crickets, roaches, and even aphids.
In the wild, they'll scavenge for small insects in their environment. You can replicate this by feeding them mealworms, crickets, or roaches in captivity. Just be sure to dust the insects with calcium powder to provide essential nutrients.
As a gardener, you'll be happy to know that Western Fence Lizards help control pest populations by eating garden pests like grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, ticks, and ants.
Insects should be smaller than the lizard's head, and they can be fed 1 to 2 insects every 2 to 3 days. Be mindful of excess insects in the cage, as they can pose a danger to the lizard while it's sleeping.
Interestingly, Western Fence Lizards have evolved an immunity to Lyme Disease, which means they can safely eat ticks without getting infected. This also helps cleanse the disease-causing pathogen from the tick's gut, preventing the spread of Lyme Disease to other animals.
Feeding a Lizard
Feeding a lizard can be a bit tricky, but the basics are simple.
Fence lizards can be fed mealworms, crickets, roaches, or any other small insect you may find in the wild.
They need to be dusted with calcium powder to ensure they're getting all the right nutrients.
The insects should be smaller than the lizard's head, and can be fed 1 to 2 every 2 to 3 days.
Be sure to keep an eye on how many insects are left in the cage at night, as excess insects can be a danger to the lizard while it's sleeping.
Western Fence Lizard Diet
They eat a variety of insects, including beetles, grasshoppers, and ants.
Insects like wasps, aphids, mosquitoes, and ticks are also on the menu.
Spiders are another common food source for Western Fence Lizards.
Other western fence lizards are also known to be a tasty snack for them.
Providing a Balanced Diet
Western Fence Lizards primarily eat insects and spiders, with a favorite food being insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, ants, and wasps.
In captivity, they can be fed mealworms, crickets, roaches, or other small insects, which should be dusted with calcium powder for optimal nutrition.
Insects should be smaller than the lizard's head, and fed 1 to 2 times every 2 to 3 days. This helps prevent overfeeding and ensures the lizard gets the nutrients it needs.
Excess insects in the cage can be a danger to the lizard while it's sleeping, so it's essential to keep an eye on the insect population at night.
In the wild, Western Fence Lizards are beneficial to gardeners because they mainly consume garden pests like aphids, grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, ticks, and ants.
Fruits and Vegetation
Western Fence Lizards love to munch on a variety of fruits and vegetation, which are abundant in their desert habitats.
They particularly enjoy feasting on the sweet nectar of flowers like the Brittlebrush and Creosote Bush, which provide a rich source of energy.
Insects like aphids, whiteflies, and caterpillars are also on the menu, often caught while basking in the sun on a rock or branch.
Fruits like the Desert Prickly Pear cactus and the Joshua Tree's berries are favorite treats for these lizards.
The Western Fence Lizard's diet is also supplemented by the tender shoots and leaves of vegetation like the Desert Lavender and the Mojave Yucca.
Related reading: Desert Horned Lizard
Diet
The Western Fence Lizard is a carnivore, and its diet consists mainly of insects.
Insects make up the bulk of their diet, including beetles, grasshoppers, ants, wasps, aphids, mosquitoes, and ticks.
Spiders are also a common food source for Western Fence Lizards.
They'll even eat other western fence lizards, which is a pretty surprising fact.
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