Friday, July 31, 2026
Science

Plant diversity may explain why some caterpillars are fussy about their food

Many insects will eat almost anything in their sight, such as certain beetles, grasshoppers and locusts, while others are remarkably picky eaters. For example, numerous insect herbivores will feed only on a single plant family or a specific type of tree. But why is this so?

Plant diversity may explain why some caterpillars are fussy about their food
Image: Phys.org
Many insects will eat almost anything in their sight, such as certain beetles, grasshoppers and locusts, while others are remarkably picky eaters. For example, numerous insect herbivores will feed only on a single plant family or a specific type of tree. But why is this so?

Originally published at Phys.org

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