If you plant them (oaks) they (insects) will come. Give 'em time. As you had suspected, oaks do indeed host multitudes, more so than many other tree species. I can't recall the research, but if I'm not mistaken white oaks (as a group of species) do indeed host greater insect diversity than the black oaks (also a group). I'm not sure they're taxonomically valid groups, however. In any event, the Lepidoptera diversity alone could be hundreds of species on white oaks at your latitude, and still plenty on black oak. Let's hope we're around to see that abundance of moths and butterflies!
They're still adolescents, so I'll give them time. Their tendencies might have been encouraged by the unchecked flood of donations (i.e. sprinkler water) unavailable to previous candidates.
Also, if you want to kill your lawn with a beautiful, fast-growing tree, try black walnut, and don't rake the leaves. Looks like you've got lawn aplenty.
There is a German folk tale that a farmer received a favor from the devil, and in return, he said the devil could have his soul when the oaks were leafless. I guess the devil wasn't much a a botanist, and a deal is a deal.
If you plant them (oaks) they (insects) will come. Give 'em time. As you had suspected, oaks do indeed host multitudes, more so than many other tree species. I can't recall the research, but if I'm not mistaken white oaks (as a group of species) do indeed host greater insect diversity than the black oaks (also a group). I'm not sure they're taxonomically valid groups, however. In any event, the Lepidoptera diversity alone could be hundreds of species on white oaks at your latitude, and still plenty on black oak. Let's hope we're around to see that abundance of moths and butterflies!
They're still adolescents, so I'll give them time. Their tendencies might have been encouraged by the unchecked flood of donations (i.e. sprinkler water) unavailable to previous candidates.
Also, if you want to kill your lawn with a beautiful, fast-growing tree, try black walnut, and don't rake the leaves. Looks like you've got lawn aplenty.
There is a German folk tale that a farmer received a favor from the devil, and in return, he said the devil could have his soul when the oaks were leafless. I guess the devil wasn't much a a botanist, and a deal is a deal.