Are Trees in Species-Rich Urban Plantings Less Susceptible to Pest Damage?

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Are Trees in Species-Rich Urban Plantings Less Susceptible to Pest Damage?

Jan 19, 2024

Arboriculture Environment Horticulture Nature Plant Health Care Tree Health

Scales on tree and branch — Gloomy scales (Melanaspis tenebricosa) can be highly abundant on red maples in cities. At left is an infested branch from a young red maple, while the close-up at right shows how densely clustered gloomy scales can be on red maple trunks. (Photos by Caleb J. Wilson, Ph.D.)

By Caleb J. Wilson, Ph.D.

Trees in species-rich forests often suffer less damage from insect pests compared to trees in forests dominated by a few common species. Many hypotheses have been proposed to explain these findings. Two that have gained prominence among scientists are “the resource concentration hypothesis” and “the enemies hypothesis,” both coined by Richard B. Root, Ph.D., in a landmark publication in Ecological Monographs in 1973.

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