ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Insects feeding on trees are described as pests when they cause damage that is unacceptable to humans either in biological or economic terms. Across the world’s forests insects are estimated to take between 5 and 15% of tree foliage annually (Speight and Wainhouse, 1989), although some studies have found insect herbivores to have a lower impact (0.7% in mature pine forest; Larsson and Tenow, 1980), while others record much higher losses (up to 20% in Australian rainforest; Lowman, 1984).
