American chestnut, Castanea dentata (Fagaceae), was a dominant member of Appalachian forests until it was all but eliminated by an introduced fungus disease around the turn of the last century. The species persists as stump sprouts, which succumb to the fungus as soon as they reach pole-size.

It is intriguing to observe the extent of herbivory on the leaves of chestnut, as seen here during the evening of September 18, 2010, at a wooded family campground in Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. Although there is no way to tell what types of insects feasted so avidly here, because insects in general are the main for food for many birds and other wildlife, this observation is a testament to the former ecological importance of chestnut in these forests.