Talking Points

Leaves are not litter. They are food and shelter for butterflies, beetles, bees, moths, and more! Keep things a little wild in your city or campus this fall. Leaves, hollow and pithy stems, brush piles, dead wood, soil, and flower heads all provide important winter shelter for many invertebrates, including native bees. Learn more at: xerces.org/leave-the-leaves.

Who uses leaves and dead stems?:

• 30% of native bees are tunnel-nesting, such as leafcutter and mason bees. These solitary-nesting species need narrow tunnels or other tiny spaces in dead wood, hollow stems, or brush piles.
• Bumble bee queens burrow an inch or two into the earth to hibernate for winter. An extra thick layer of leaves is welcome protection from the elements.
• Tunnel-nesting solitary bees, such as leafcutter and mason bees, need narrow tunnels or other tiny spaces in dead wood, hollow stems, or brush piles.
• Red-banded hairstreak butterflies lay their eggs on fallen oak leaves, which become the first food of the caterpillars when they emerge.
• Luna moth and swallowtail butterfly caterpillars disguise their cocoons and chrysalises as dried leaves, which blend in with the real leaves.
• Woolly bear caterpillars tuck themselves into leaf piles for protection from cold weather.

There are many ways to participate in leaving the leaves:

• Let leaves rest where they fall,
• Make piles in the back corner of a yard or park, 
• Use them to mulch garden beds

Avoid shredding the leaves and keep in mind: if you wait too long to move leaves around, that good habitat may become occupied by their winter residents!

Use the following tools to help inspire your city or campus to #LeavetheLeaves this fall!