Can bugs get fat? I know they can molt, but can a bug eat so much between molts that it gets too big for its exoskeleton and its too soon to molt again? Also is it possible for a bug to over eat and make themselves ill or get a tummy ache?
I don't know about making them feel ill (you'd have to ask them), but some can eat too much or store too much fat, especially those in captivity that are fed too frequently or fed an improper diet. In the wild, most bugs wouldn't have the opportunity to eat enough to get overly fat, but sometimes due to parasites or genetics, they can retain too much fat. The exoskeleton of adult bugs allows for some expansion between molts, but there is a limit. Too much fat would mostly mean it's just packed tighter into the same area inside the exoskeleton. This can be dangerous - pet spiders come to mind. If they're fed too frequently and their abdomen gets too distended, they are much more prone to fall injuries that may rupture the abdomen. I also read an article some time ago about wild dragonflies that were infected with a specific parasite that made them retain too much fat and they then had less success mating. Larvae like caterpillars on the other hand have much more leeway in terms of how much they can grow between molts - their exoskeleton is much stretchier to accommodate the necessary growth, and they store fat/energy mostly for use in pupation or for use in the adult form after pupation, especially if it's one of the species that don't eat as adults so they have to get all their energy as larvae.
