The reticulated pattern can range from a standard thin stripe width to speckled, incomplete lines to an all black frog with a few colored spots, making the frog appear to have a black base color when in fact the base color is that of the spots. The bright markings of D. histrionicus probably act as a warning to potential predators. The skin glands of D. histrionicus produce a highly toxic poison capable of repelling or even killing small predators. Their primary food preferences are ants, termites, small beetles, and other small arthropods found in the leaf litter. To capture their prey, like other frogs, they rely on their sight and use a sticky, retractable tongue.
Tadpoles feed on infertile eggs provided by their mother.
Reproduction Poison dart frogs will breed throughout the rainy season. The males attempt to attract females by perching on a leaf and giving a trilling, buzzing call. Once the male has attracted his mate, together they will search for a location to lay the eggs. The female lays her eggs on the surface of a leaf while the male follows behind her and deposits his sperm. Once the eggs are fertilized, the female will stay by her eggs to guard them.