The mighty oak is truly the king of trees, and the red oak (Quercus rubra) is no exception. Although oaks often get a bad rap for being slow-growing, a red oak can grow up to two feet a year. Besides its sturdy wood and attractive shape, this majestic tree provides food for countless numbers of wildlife species, including more than 900 species of moths and butterflies. And it’s not just fresh green foliage that’s the attraction: oak leaf litter provides food and shelter for many insects, including the red-banded hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops).
Oaks are a popular host plant for many types of hairstreak butterflies, and most of these follow the conventional routine of laying their eggs on twigs, with newly hatched caterpillars consuming the green leaves. The red-banded hairstreak ( https://bugguide.net/node/view/948914/bgimage) however, chooses a more unique approach. Rather than eating fresh new growth, these caterpillars spend much of their lives hiding in the leaf litter below, feasting on dead oak leaves.
The extra-durable leaf litter of oaks is valuable for many reasons. It’s vital habitat for the unseen army of decomposers who are constantly at work recycling the nutrients that plants (and indirectly, animals) need. It acts as a sponge, soaking up rain, improving water infiltration, and purifying it along the way. And recent research indicates that oak leaf litter is particularly effective at fighting the spread of invasive species such as Japanese stiltgrass. All are excellent reasons to ‘leave the leaves’!
Author: Lisa Schneider
Photo: Volodymyr
Oaks are a popular host plant for many types of hairstreak butterflies, and most of these follow the conventional routine of laying their eggs on twigs, with newly hatched caterpillars consuming the green leaves. The red-banded hairstreak ( https://bugguide.net/node/view/948914/bgimage) however, chooses a more unique approach. Rather than eating fresh new growth, these caterpillars spend much of their lives hiding in the leaf litter below, feasting on dead oak leaves.
The extra-durable leaf litter of oaks is valuable for many reasons. It’s vital habitat for the unseen army of decomposers who are constantly at work recycling the nutrients that plants (and indirectly, animals) need. It acts as a sponge, soaking up rain, improving water infiltration, and purifying it along the way. And recent research indicates that oak leaf litter is particularly effective at fighting the spread of invasive species such as Japanese stiltgrass. All are excellent reasons to ‘leave the leaves’!
Author: Lisa Schneider
Photo: Volodymyr
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