Forest Health

At the Forest Health station, participants will be asked to identify insects, diseases, and stresses by specimen or evidence. Youth should study the charts provided, and mark insects, diseases, and stresses with the "X" under their age group.

On the day of the contest, Juniors will be asked to identify 15 insects, diseases, or stresses. Intermediates will be asked to identify 20, and Seniors will be asked to identify 30.

Use this page to learn more about insects, diseases, and stresses that commonly influence forest health in Florida. You may also view informational videos about these and other forestry topics.

View the samples and answer key for the 2024 Forest Ecology Contest here: 2024 Forest Health Station

• Insects

  Number	Insect Name	Juniors	Intermediates	Seniors
  1	Ambrosia beetles	X	X	X
  2	Black turpentine beetle	X	X	X
  3	Cicada	X	X	X
  4	Cottonwood leaf beetle			X
  5	Cypress twig gall midge			X
  6	Eastern tent caterpillar	X	X	X
  7	Fall webworm	X	X	X
  8	Ips beetle		X	X
  9	Pine sawfly		X	X
  10	Pine tip moth		X	X
  11	Pine webworm		X	X
  12	Scale insect			X
  13	Southern pine beetle	X	X	X
  14	Sycamore lacebug			X
  15	Twig girdler			X

  • Read more about common bark beetle pests of Florida.
• Diseases

  Number	Disease Name	Juniors	Intermediates	Seniors
  1	Annosum root rot		X	X
  2	Armillaria root rot	X	X	X
  3	Bacterial leaf scorch			X
  4	Cedar-apple rust	X	X	X
  5	Fireblight		X	X
  6	Fusiform rust	X	X	X
  7	Hispidus canker			X
  8	Hypoxylon canker	X	X	X
  9	Laurel wilt			X
  10	Needlecast	X	X	X
  11	Oak leaf blister		X	X
  12	Pitch canker	X	X	X
  13	Powdery mildew			X
  14	Sycamore anthracnose			X
  15	Tar spot			X

• Stresses

  Number	Stress Name	Juniors	Intermediates	Seniors
  1	Catface	X	X	X
  2	Galls		X	X
  3	Lightning	X	X	X
  4	Mistletoe	X	X	X
  5	Witch's broom			X