In what ways can insects be harmful and beneficial to trees and forests?

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Suitable for 14-19-year olds (secondary, middle and high schools), this article and accompanying activity sheet can be used in the classroom, in science clubs and at home.

This resource links to KS3 Biology, Interactions and Interdependencies; Geography, Physical and human and KS4 Biology, Ecosystems; Physical Geography, processes and change, but is also internationally relevant.

It can also be used as a careers resource and links to Gatsby Benchmarks:
Gatsby Benchmark 2: Learning from career and labour market information
Gatsby Benchmark 4: Linking curriculum learning to careers

The article includes a summary of a pine research project in the USA, explanations of forest pathology and entomology i.e. what they are, how plants and insects work together (symbiosis) and the career opportunities available in these fields, plus an interview with forest pathologist Dr Lori Eckhardt.

The activity sheet includes discussion points - eight questions the students can answer in groups or individually - and ideas for activities that are relevant to forest pathology and entomology (insects).

This resource was first published on Futurum Careers, a free online resource and magazine aimed at encouraging 14-19-year-olds worldwide to pursue careers in science, tech, engineering, maths, medicine (STEM) and social sciences, humanities and the arts for people and the economy (SHAPE).

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