Clovers (Trifolium genus) are common plants found across various landscapes, from manicured lawns and gardens to natural areas. These resilient plants serve multiple purposes, including soil enrichment and forage for livestock. Beyond their practical uses, clovers are a significant food source for diverse creatures, from small invertebrates to larger mammals. Understanding which animals feed on clovers can help identify the cause of plant damage.
Common Mammalian Eaters
Mammalian herbivores include clovers in their diet, drawn to their tender leaves and nutritional content. Rabbits frequently graze on clover, consuming leaves, stems, and flowers. While wild rabbits eat clover, excessive consumption by domesticated rabbits can lead to digestive upset due to high protein.
Deer readily feed on clovers, finding them highly palatable and easily digestible. Clover provides a good source of protein for deer, and its presence in food plots can encourage repeated grazing. Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, consider clover a favorite food, along with grasses and dandelions. They can cause noticeable damage, often leaving plants with sharp, angled cuts.
Insect Pests
Various insects and small invertebrates feed on clovers, leaving distinct signs of their activity. Slugs and snails are nocturnal feeders that chew leaves from their outer edges, sometimes devouring young plants entirely. Their presence is often indicated by shiny mucus trails. Caterpillars, the larvae of moths and butterflies, can cause damage by chewing holes in leaves and sometimes skeletonizing them. Species like the green cloverworm feed in the middle of leaves, while clover case-bearer caterpillars can damage flowers and seeds.
Aphids are tiny, sap-sucking insects that infest clover plants, leading to yellowing leaves and stunted growth. Large populations of aphids secrete a sticky substance called honeydew, which can cover plants. Grasshoppers are another common pest, feeding on clover leaves, buds, flowers, and seed pods. Their feeding results in ragged, chewed holes on the plant foliage.
Identifying the Culprit and Their Impact
Observing damage and the surrounding environment can help pinpoint which creature is eating clovers. Mammals like deer or rabbits often leave clean, sharp cuts on stems and leaves, as they bite through plant material. The presence of droppings near damaged plants can also indicate a mammalian feeder. Grazing animals can reduce clover content, especially if grazing is intense.
Insect damage typically appears as irregular holes, chewed edges, or skeletonized leaves. Slugs and snails leave characteristic slime trails and ragged holes. Caterpillars create distinct holes, with frass (excrement) visible.
Aphids cause stippling or discoloration due to sap removal, leaving a sticky residue. Grasshoppers leave irregular, chewed areas. The overall impact can range from minor cosmetic blemishes to significant plant loss, depending on infestation severity or grazing animal numbers.