What Do Geckos That Live in El Yunque Eat?

El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System, according to the Forest Service. Located in eastern Puerto Rico, El Yunque takes up about 28,000 acres. This forest is home to thousands of plant species, and El Yunque is teeming with small wildlife, including the common dwarf gecko and the larger Puerto Rico upland gecko, both of which are insectivores.

  1. Walking Stick

    • Walking sticks are "folivores," which means they eat the leaves of trees and other plants. Their twig-like bodies make excellent camouflage, and these insects look very much like the plants upon which they feed. Walking sticks can even change their shades, from a lighter green during the day to darker colors at night. They are nocturnal but can be found during the day, lying on branches or leaves.

    Wheeleri Cockroach

    • Cockroaches are a favorite food of geckos, and this 1-inch long species is the perfect size for the small geckos found in El Yunque. The nocturnal Wheeleri cockroach forages at night and can be found hiding among leaf litter during the day. Puerto Rican forests are one of the best places to find this cockroach, and populations are highest during the rainy season, peaking in October.

    Flies

    • Both the common dwarf gecko and the Puerto Rico upland gecko are small species, and so they generally must eat tiny food. Two species of flies found in El Yunque, flower flies and sawflies, fit the bill perfectly. Both of these fly species resemble wasps, although they are considerably smaller, well under half an inch in length for males and slightly larger for females. Flower flies are found hovering near flowers in the understory of the forest, while sawflies can be found feeding on sea grape plants.

    Diets in Captivity

    • Geckos are often chosen as pets, so it is not inconceivable that dwarf geckos or Puerto Rico upland geckos might find their way into a terrarium. There, native insects may not be available, but gut-loaded crickets are likely to be a staple of a pet gecko's diet instead. Mealworms and fruit flies may be offered as well, along with the occasional wax worm.