Leaftakers

Leaftakers are organisms that remove leaf material from plants for food, shelter, or nest-building. The term describes a broad guild rather than a single taxon, and it is used in ecological literature to refer to diverse leaf-foraging species. Although most leaftakers are insects, the group can include other invertebrates such as certain mollusks and arachnids that rely on leaves as a resource.

Two primary strategies are recognized. Leaf-cutting leaftakers sever and transport leaf fragments to colonies or nests, a behavior well documented in some ants and beetles. Leaf-chewing leaftakers feed on leaf tissue while it remains on the plant, including many caterpillars and grasshoppers. Some species also manipulate leaves to build shelters or create predation-avoidance structures.

Ecological role. Leaftakers influence plant growth and community composition by removing tissue and altering photosynthetic capacity. They form part of food webs as prey for predators and parasitoids, and some species act as agricultural pests, prompting monitoring and management in crops and orchards.

Distribution and life cycles. Leaftaker species occur in tropical, temperate, and subtropical regions and inhabit forests, grasslands, and agroecosystems. Life histories vary from annual to multi-year cycles, often tied to host-plant phenology and local climate.

See also: leafcutter ant; leaf beetle; herbivory.