Have you seen photos of people showering themselves in leaves yet on social media? Or, Pinterest worthy fall leaf crafts?
Well, dearie (as Rumpelstiltskin would say), I have! And I wonder if these people know whether or not an entire ecosystem lives in leaf litter?!
According to the American Museum of Natural History (2002), “arthropods commonly found in leaf litter include sowbugs, spiders, pseudoscorpions, daddy longlegs, and mites, as well as millipedes, centipedes, double-tails, springtails, and insects” (Johnson and Catley p. 3-14). As for my personal experience, I’ve discovered the following lurking in leaf litter: maggots, assassin bugs, wolf spiders, spider wasps, beetles, weevils, earwigs, daddy longlegs, and ants (just to name a few).
Are you familiar with any of these arthropods?
Well, if you’re not, then you’ve landed in the right place—wink, wink! I’ll be thrilled to assist you from here on out!
So now that you know life exist in leaf litter, I guess the QOTD is whether to toss the leaves and create cutesy crafts or not?
And the answer is up to you!
If you are a parent, teacher, or caregiver however, then inform and advise your kiddos on the fact that insects and spiders use leaf litter for insulation purposes during winter.
Leaf litter will spark a terrific learning opportunity that encourages nature study and helps children to notice and categorize things from the natural world.
And if you need help with teaching what lurks in leaf litter, then grab these “Life in Leaf Litter” photos!
By the way, leaves covering the ground is a great thing for our environment and helps promote biodiversity.
As a way to help protect biodiversity the AMNH recommends to “Appreciate the natural, unmanicured look of your woodlands and parks. Leave the organic materials, fallen foliage, twigs and branches around and under trees undisturbed” (Biodiversity guides and handbooks: AMNH. American Museum of Natural History)
I hope this post answered the question of what’s in leaf litter for you, and if you have any questions then feel free to email me or DM (@naturalistteacher).
Over and Out,
Nicole
Naturalist Teacher 