\u201cFinding these animals eating frogs\u00a0was a complete surprise, we didn\u2019t expect them to be able to capture them,\u201d\u00a0study co-author\u00a0Lu\u00eds Fernando Garc\u00eda, a biologist at the University of the Republic in Uruguay, told Live Science.<\/a><\/p>\n The research team based their findings on ten reports of this French-evoking feeding behavior, which would appear to completely upend the typical predator-prey dynamic between bugs and amphibians. <\/p>\n These encompassed field observations across South America, research papers and submissions to iNaturalist \u2014 a citizen science platform where anyone can post wildlife pics.<\/p>\n Naturalist guide and co-author Lizardo Proa\u00f1o told Smithsonian Magazine<\/a> that he initially didn\u2019t think he was seeing \u201csomething special\u201d while observing a harvestman devouring one of these fly-catchers.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought it was normal because frogs are good prey for everybody,\u201d he said. \u201cThey don\u2019t have any scales or hard bones. They are like gummy bears in the forest.\u201d<\/p>\n He quickly learned that this behavior was quite the anomaly in scientific circles. Although the observations are nothing knew, it was unclear if these spindly-limbed critters were scavenging dead frogs or actively hunting them.<\/p>\n Given that these pond-hoppers were still alive in many of the instances, the team deduced that it was more likely the latter. <\/p>\n In some cases, the frogs were up to 1.29 times bigger than their captor \u2014 an impressive feat given that these creepy crawlies don\u2019t have venom with which to subdue their prey.<\/p>\n Instead researchers speculated that these eight-legged invertebrates might be using their strong spiny mouthparts or front limbs, known as pedipalps, to grasp their slippery quarry like a preying mantis.<\/p>\n \u201cThey must rely entirely on physical restraint,\u201d\u00a0surmised Jose Valdez, an ecologist at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg in Germany who was not involved in the study.<\/p>\n Researchers also suspected that the harvestmen could be targeting frogs that are injured, slow or even sleepy.<\/p>\n Why did these slender arthropods start hunting amphibians? Because they can, the researchers say.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they can capture one, why not eat one?\u201d said study author Esteban Calvache, who works as a biologist at Mashpi Lodge and has observed this macabre feeding behavior. <\/p>\n He suspected that the famously non-picky daddy longlegs, which feasts on everything from worms to animal droppings<\/a>, were simply taking advantage of the area\u2019s bounty of amphibians.<\/p>\n In addition, the tropical species of harvestmen tend to be bulkier than their temperate counterparts, so they might rely on heartier prey animals like frogs to sustain their large bodies. <\/p>\n Further studies are needed to determine the method and frequency of this unique form of predation. <\/p>\n Coincidentally, harvestmen aren\u2019t the only arthropods that target vertebrate prey.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/grabs-hold-frog-pristimantis-sp-129715269.jpg\")
\u201cIf they can capture one, why not eat one?\u201d said study author Esteban Calvache while describing this unlikely-seeming form of predation (pictured). Calvache, E., et al. Ecology and Evolution (2026)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/grabs-hold-frog-pristimantis-sp-129715270.jpg\")
As daddy longlegs don\u2019t possess venom, they\u2019re forced to subdue their slippery quarry with their spiny mouthparts and forelegs. Calvache, E., et al. Ecology and Evolution (2026)<\/p>\n