Study backs ‘Leave the Leaves’ yard care movement

New peer-reviewed research from Canisius University adds early scientific support for the “Leave the Leaves” movement, finding that fallen leaves in suburban yards support a wide range of insects and other arthropods. The study suggests that removing leaf litter can erase habitat at a time when insect biodiversity is under pressure.

Why it matters: - Fallen leaves in suburban yards are not just debris. The research shows they function as habitat for insects and other arthropods. - Removing leaf litter can eliminate food sources, shelter and overwintering spaces. - The findings add early scientific evidence to the growing “Leave the Leaves” movement and its broader conservation message.

What happened: - Canisius University biology professor Katie S. Costanzo, Ph.D., and undergraduate student Peyton A. Callen ’26 co-authored a peer-reviewed study on leaf litter in suburban yards across Western New York. - The research was featured on the cover of American Entomologist. - The study analyzed bags of fallen autumn leaves collected from suburban yards and used microscopes and digital identification tools to classify the organisms living in the leaf litter.

The details: - The researchers identified more than 25 insect species across nine orders. - The sample also contained spiders, centipedes, sowbugs and ticks. - The organisms represented multiple life stages, from larvae to adults. - The species covered different ecological roles, including decomposers and predators. - The study is exploratory in scale, but it points to a direct link between routine yard maintenance and local insect biodiversity. - The research comes as global insect decline remains a concern. - Callen, an animal behavior, ecology and conservation major, helped identify specimens and analyze data from an earlier class project. - Callen began work on the project before formally enrolling in Canisius’ entomology course.

Between the lines: - The study turns a common landscaping choice into a measurable ecological issue. - For suburban homeowners, leaf cleanup can reshape the small habitats that support local insect life. - The project also shows how undergraduate research can contribute to peer-reviewed science, not just classroom learning. - The work aligns with Canisius University’s emphasis on hands-on learning and its strategic plan, Answer the Call, which focuses on applied learning, undergraduate research and student success through faculty-led inquiry.

What’s next: - As the “Leave the Leaves” message spreads in conservation circles, the Canisius-led research gives advocates new scientific support. - Readers can find more information about the study and the movement on the Canisius website. - The findings may help shape future conversations about lawn care, biodiversity and habitat preservation in residential areas.

The bottom line: - Leaving fallen leaves in place can support the insects and arthropods that keep local ecosystems functioning.