At the April 4th, 2024 SSAFE General Committee Meeting, our guest speaker, Doug Tallamy, mentioned a way to protect pollinator habitat while maintaining a manicured appearance. The following idea was sent to Doug by Peter Keilty from Bees for All.

• “The Larval Landing was created for those who want to “leave the leaves” without having to leave the HOA. Neighborhoods with strict rules often mandate that leaf “litter” is removed and disposed of, denying a valuable resource to the many creatures who depend on it.
• We have designed a modular system that collects fallen leaves. Intended to avoid what Douglas Tallamy calls an “ecological trap” for moths and butterflies, these hexagonal leaf traps are arranged around the base of a tree to allow falling caterpillars to safely complete their life cycle. The modules can also be used as raised beds for shade-tolerant native plants, and stacked vertically for greater depth.
• Many caterpillars feed on tree leaves, particularly oak species, but complete their development in the leaf litter or soft earth under the tree. Having grass right up to the base of a tree means fallen larvae either get chopped up by the mower or are not able to burrow into the compacted soil beneath. Raking and disposing of leaves adds to this problem, so our system uses fallen leaf litter as a form of natural mulch which, in turn, protects the tree from moisture loss and extremes of temperature. Store-bought mulch will no longer be necessary.
• Moth and butterfly larvae form a large and important function at the base of the food web. Helping them helps all wildlife to prosper, particularly birds, who rely heavily on caterpillars to feed their young. Our system also reduces lawn area which, in turn, saves water and the fossil fuels expended in fertilizing and mowing.”

🎞️ Watch a short video clip about Larval Landings here at this link.

📄 Download the plans to create your own Larval Landings here at this link.