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Oak trees delay sprouting leaves to avoid being infested by hungry caterpillars

Two oak trees in the spring, with varying degrees of leaf growth. The tree on the right was more heavily infested with caterpillars last year; the delayed leaf growth is a reaction to that. (Sven Finnberg via SWNS)

By Stephen Beech

Oak trees deliberately delay sprouting leaves by three days to avoid being infested by hungry caterpillars, reveals new research.

Oak trees delay sprouting leaves to avoid being infested by hungry caterpillars

The plate is empty: a caterpillar waits for the leaves to sprout. (Sven Finnberg via SWNS)

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(Photo by Leticia Golubov via Pexels)

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(Photo by Johannes Plenio via Pexels)

Originally published on talker.news, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.

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