Those holes, rips, folds and tubes that you find in leaves? They’re mainly the work of larval beetles, moths, flies, sawflies and other insects. In moderation, herbivory—the eating of plants—is a sign of a healthy environment because it indicates that our native insects have not been decimated by pesticides or climate change. Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Natural Sciences Emeritus Nathaniel T. Wheelwright presents this latest Nature Moments video.

If you want to make your own natural history observations, The Naturalist’s Notebook by Nathaniel T. Wheelwright and Bernd Heinrich (Storey Publishing, 2017) provides guidance and a systematic format, with 100% of royalties going to conservation and environmental education.

Check out more Nature Moments.