Ecological strategies of forest insects: the need for a community-level approach to reforestation

The traditional, single-species approach to forest pest management is considered in light of the range of ecological strategies respresented in forest arthropod communities. Insect population growth and impact depend on host variables subject to silvicultural manipulation, especially during early stages of forest development, but silvicultural practices often induce undesirable responses from non-target insect populations. A suggested approach to forest pest management involves consideration of arthropod community structure, life history traits, and interactions among arthropod and plant species in order to anticipate insect responses and refine silvicultural recommendations accordingly.