Many species are beneficial in a variety of ways.
Many others, however, are destructive in that they cause, or are capable of causing, economic loss or unacceptable damage. Hardly any species of tree is without insect enemies. All stages of growth, seedling to maturity, and all functional structures of trees flowers, fruit, seed, foliage, buds, twigs, branches, bole, and roots are subject to attack and injury by some insect or group of insects. Specific effects and types of losses that occur depend on functional structure attacked, and on age, stage of growth, species, and health of the trees. Insects associated with Alabama trees have been subjects of observation and study at the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station for a number of years.