Polyphage animals eat a variety of foods

A polyphagous animal is in the general sense an animal that is able to eat a variety of food. This term is often used in entomology; species capable of feeding on plants that are not closely related are called polyphagous.

A polyphagous animal has a higher chance of survival from an evolutionary point of view, it is usually abundant (if not limited by conditions other than food). A typical example of a polyphagous animal in the insect kingdom is the large-headed bee (Lymantria dispar) or the common beetle (Melolontha melolontha).

According to the number of food plants, insects are divided into polyphagous, oligophagous and monophagous species.