Cuckoos as natural predator for gypsy moths

Southeastern Massachusetts experiences an outbreak of gypsy moths, which make the trees suffer without its leaves. Some areas look terrible, there are no trees with normal leaves at all. According to the Week Birds Report, the natural predator for the moth is cuckoos.

Cuckoos’ secret lies in a special physiological adaptation, which allows them to eat hundreds of hairy caterpillars with no consequent problems in digestion. So, the cuckoos are natural predators for the gypsy moth and most natural solution for the current Massachusetts’ outbreak.

Both European and American cuckoos are laying their eggs in the nests of other species, it’s nest parasitism in terms of zoology. Despite this fact, some North American cuckoos are normally attentive parents who learn their fast-growing awkward chicks to fly. These birds look not so athletic, but they’re able to reach the southern half of South America each fall, biologists say.