There is a quiet revolution going on. It’s gaining recognition in neighborhoods and yards across the United States. It began, as most revolutions do, because something was happening and someone noticed. What’s happening is that we are losing our smallest of important characters in nature, the insects.
The someone who noticed is Doug Tallamy, a conservationist and professor at the University of Delaware. Through his work as an entomologist and ecologist, Tallamy noticed that we are losing our native insects, caterpillars in particular, because we are losing the native habitats that support them.
According to Edward O. Wilson, biologist and “father of biodiversity” it is the insects that run the world. Just a few of the irreplaceable ecosystem services they provide are pollinating plants, aerating soil, decomposing organic waste, as well as primary food sources for countless birds, reptiles and mammals.
Consider this: A peek into a chickadees’ world
The waning of winter has begun. If you step outside you are likely to hear “Feebee, FEEbee, Feebee” the welcome spring call of the Black-capped chickadee.
There is a mated pair that lives in my yard. I know that soon they will begin the task of making a nest in a small tree cavity, laying their eggs and beginning the arduous task of raising an average clutch of 6-8 hatchlings. After the lull of the incubation period, the real work begins.
The nestlings will need a high protein diet that is composed primarily of animal matter. A typical meal might consist of spiders and bugs but most important are the soft, easy to digest caterpillars. The parents will spend every waking hour gleaning this critical nutrition from the leaves and branches of native trees and shrubs. An average chickadee clutch will consume between 6000-9000 caterpillars over their 16-18 day nestling phase. This comes out to roughly 350-570 caterpillars per day! Even more are required during their fledgling phase. The importance of caterpillars cannot be overstated!
Caterpillars are important to more than just chickadees, they are the fuel of life for many bird species, turning plant material into available food. Many of our insects, especially caterpillars, have specific relationships with specific plants. By replacing native species with non-native species, we have inadvertently added to the decline of all insects.
Seeing this decline and understanding the implications of it has brought Professor Tallamy and others to address this important issue by creating the non-profit, Homegrown National Park. This is a grass roots effort to raise awareness and urgently inspire everyone to address the biodiversity crisis through different choices in our personal landscaping.
How do we help?
The call to action is simple. Choose native plants. Remove the invasives. Be willing to change the paradigm of what a lawn should look like. It could be one aster or a small clump of bergamot or a whole yard of native shrubs and flowers. The end result will be more food for more insects, and more of our beloved nature in our yards.
As Doug Tallamy says:
“There are millions of us out there and if we each realize that we all have a role in conservation and a responsibility to be good stewards of the land that we love, we can collectively make a difference…”
As spring edges closer and you begin to dream about your yard, consider planting native species, one or many, and join this necessary revolution. Be a part of the change and help to make a difference.
To learn more and become a part of the movement please check out the website homegrownnationalpark.org
Photo credits:
“Wooly Bear Caterpillar (Adult: Isabella Tiger Moth)” by Jim, the Photographer is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
“Black-capped Chickadee” by DaPuglet is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
“Forest Tent Caterpillar” by jasonb42882 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
“Goldenrod Soldier Beetle (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus)” by marknenadov is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
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