Seasonal consumption of insects by the crested porcupine in Central Italy

Many herbivorous, granivorous and frugivorousrodents can integrate animal proteins in their diet, still formany of them no information is available on the importanceof animal food sources. The crested porcupine,Hystrix cristata, is considered a strictly vegetarian rodent. Itmay integrate animal proteins through bone-gnawing,while the importance of insects in his diet is poorly known.In this study we assessed the presence of insects in the dietof this rodent in Central Italy by collecting 141 faecalsamples along transects in 2016-2020. Hypogeal plantorgans were the main component of the diet (absolutefrequency = 50.38%; volume = 60.13%). Insects weredetected only in 6.8% samples, only in February-March, atthe annual birth peak for the crested porcupine. Insectconsumption, although occasional, could be linked to thenutritional requirements of this rodent during lactation.