What specific plant species are mentioned as larval food sources for *Operophtera brumata*?
Answer
Oak, birch, and heather.
The larvae of the Winter Moth are generalist feeders, which provides some level of resilience to their population dynamics. The provided information specifies that these larvae consume the new foliage of several deciduous trees and shrubs. The primary examples listed are common hardwood species such as oak and birch. Additionally, the text notes that heather is also consumed as a viable food source during the larval feeding phase. This dietary flexibility buffers the population against total failure if resources on one host species become suboptimal, though synchronization issues with the most preferred species remain a key concern.
Related Questions
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