It is important to distinguish this from accidental damage, since leaves are often torn or broken by physical forces such as impact, abrasion, or decay. One key feature of margin feeding is that the leaf edge shows signs of being chewed by insect mouthparts, such as mandibles. The margin may appear scalloped, jagged, or evenly notched rather than randomly torn. In addition, similar-sized bites are often repeated along comparable parts of the leaf, reflecting selective and patterned feeding behavior rather than chance damage. The presence of reaction tissue along the damaged margin provides especially strong evidence that the leaf was eaten while the plant was still alive.