4-H Forestry Project No. 8: Identifying Forest Insects and Diseases
Forests are an entirely different world than open fields or other biological settings. Various insects and diseases that depend on trees for their existence are an extremely important part of this “forest world.”
Remember, not all insects or fungi are harmful. In fact, forest ecosystems depend on insects, fungi, and bacteria for breaking down dead wood, twigs, bark, and leaves for incorporation into the mineral soil. This is a form of fertilizer, much like compost used in many gardens.