AT: Forest Entomology – Houston Arboretum

Up to 25,000 individual insects can live on a single tree. From leaf-munching caterpillars to wood-boring beetles, insects can have a major impact on tree health. In this class, you’ll learn about insects that eat the leaves, wood, and other parts of trees. You’ll learn how to identify forest insects and detect signs of their activity. You will also learn about the damage that these insects can cause, which can have serious ecological and economic effects.

Class schedule: about 60 minutes in the classroom and 60 minutes of walking, depending on the weather. Wear walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. Feel free to bring your camera and a pair of binoculars (we’ll have some binoculars available to borrow).

Instructor bio: our own Chris Garza is a member of the Houston Arboretum conservation team and a Texas Master Volunteer Entomology Specialist. He has a Masters in Forestry from Texas A&M, where he studied bark beetles. He is also an enthusiastic insect collector AND a member of the Coastal Prairie Texas Master Naturalists.

AT 2 hours to AT: Houston Arboretum