What is the diet of most adult frogs?

The diet of most adult frogs is insects. Once frogs complete metamorphosis, they generally become carnivorous predators of small invertebrates, with insects making up a major part of their food.

A frog commonly catches prey with its long, sticky tongue, which can shoot outward and retract quickly. Frogs usually swallow prey whole rather than chewing it; their small upper-jaw teeth mainly help hold food. Depending on the species and its size, an adult may also eat spiders, mites, worms, snails, slugs, crabs, fish, reptiles, small mammals, or other frogs.

This diet differs sharply from that of many tadpoles. Tadpoles often graze on algae, plant material, or other aquatic food, though some species are carnivorous from the larval stage. “Insects” is therefore the fair general answer, even though a small number of adult frogs eat substantial amounts of fruit or other plant matter.