Research Explains Why Some Oak Trees Are More Resilient After Caterpillars Feast

An invasive insect, the caterpillar Lymantria dispar.
(Didier Descouens/Creative Commons/wikimedia.org)

Very hungry caterpillars have been killing mighty oak trees across southern New England for years.

The Northeast sees a lot of different insect invaders, says Audrey Barker Plotkin. She’s a scientist with Harvard Forest.

Some trees will die because of insect defoliation, but Plotkin learned in her recent multiyear study why some oaks have more resilience.

Click here for the full story from New England Public Media.