Can a plant be a prey? Can a caterpilllar be a predator because it preys on a mulberry leaf?

Question

Can help please? I don't know.

Answer 1

Good question

If only animals were prey then what about insects?  Perhaps the true answer is that predating presupposes pursuit of a prey.  Since the Caterpillar is simply eating the tree it was born on it really didn't need to pursue.  Like I don't predate on a Ham sandwich but could I be predating on the Pig by proxy?  I reckon unless I kill the Pig I ain't the predator.  More I might be regarded as a carrion eater ;))

Answer 2

A predator should directly cause the death of its prey, and a caterpillar eating a leaf isn't going to cause the death of a healthy plant.  So no.  They're grazers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prey#Functi...

Answer 3

I'm gonna say YES.  When you look up the word "prey" it means victim or kill.  I would definitely view a plant as being prey to a caterpillar.