King Elk Forest Tinker Tailor, Soldier Sailor

It's stupid, that's what it is. He scolded with an angry sound that came from somewhere in the back of his throat. He removed his eyes from his son, his neck beginning to hurt from lying in that position for long, and instead focused on the bare tree branches and the blue sky. Oh Luisa, if only you were here. She would've known what to do with Gian, he was sure. 

His ears perked and his head shot back in the position before to look at his son. With an angry glare he nodded. Those were indeed insects, and a bunch of them could cause some trouble. Just as he was about to lecture Gian, Carlotta barged in. He made a cranky hmmph sound and bumped his head on the hard ground. He got up slowly, clearly not as agile as he had once been, and walked to his granddaughter and his own flesh and blood.

I am old, but at least I'm not so dumb as to think this destruction was because of some weird tree disease. The trees look perfectly healthy to me, and it's no coincidence this whole area is scattered with bodies of these weird things. He pointed at the weird insect with his muzzle and ended his lecture with a snort.