Know the Enemy

The dangers of exotic forest pests in North America first became evident when gypsy moth quickly became a problem after its release in 1869 (Howard, 1898). Over the years, hundreds of species of insects and plant pathogens have been introduced to North America (Mattson et al., 1994; Liebhold et al., 1995). Fortunately, only a portion of them cause dramatic damage to forests or threaten specific species - while most have relatively low profiles.

Use our photo galleries below to learn more about forest pests, what they look like, and about the damage they cause.

If, after visiting our photo galleries, you are concerned you've discovered a new infestation of a forest pest- please visit our Report a Pest page to contact the appropriate local authority.