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Hermit-The-Prog

(36,622 posts)
5. I live in wilderness; birds eat 'em
Thu Jun 15, 2023, 10:34 AM
Jun 2023

Trees and critters have been dealing with insects since before people walked the earth. Early leaves feed the bugs; later leaves are too tough or bitter.

Kill 1 predator with poison and hundreds or thousands of pests will then survive to make more pests.

If you have a goal of increasing biodiversity in your yard, ceasing to rake leaves is an easy and effective practice to adopt. Nurturing insect life under the leaves will support a wide variety of springtime plants and animals. Virtually all songbirds require insects, specifically caterpillars, to feed their young. Plants will grow in nutritious soil and receive pollination from butterflies and sphinx moths. You may even attract small amphibians such as toads and salamanders that live under moist leaves and eat insects.
https://ento.psu.edu/news/insect-life-under-the-leaves

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

BT piddyprints Jun 2023 #1
Thank you so much Beachnutt Jun 2023 #2
I don't know if I've ever seen it in a garden hose spray. piddyprints Jun 2023 #6
Birds and spiders will eat them, but not if you poison the landscape. Hermit-The-Prog Jun 2023 #3
Birds do not eat these Beachnutt Jun 2023 #4
I live in wilderness; birds eat 'em Hermit-The-Prog Jun 2023 #5
I had these in a fruitless mulberry tree over my patio 2 years ago by the thousands Beachnutt Jun 2023 #7
Did the tree survive? Hermit-The-Prog Jun 2023 #8
Got it thanks. Beachnutt Jun 2023 #9
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