Insect pests and diseases may have more negative impacts on Managed Aspen stands under climate change.

Insect pests such as forest tent caterpillar and gypsy moth, along with diseases like hypoxylon canker, may become damaging under a warmer climate. Longer growing seasons and milder winters might allow populations of native forest pests such as forest tent caterpillar to build more rapidly, and many pests have been shown to be more damaging when interacting with trees that are already stressed due to droughts or other impacts. The possibility also exists for new pests such as gypsy moth and Asian longhorn beetle to arrive in northern Minnesota.