In tropical forests, tree seedlings are subject to pressures from natural enemies and their abiotic environment. Their response to these pressures ultimately dictates their survival and the distribution of their species. Insect herbivores predate trees more than any other herbivore, with most predation occurring during the seedling stage of the plant’s life. Fungal pathogens are also detrimental to seedling survival, sometimes causing complete cohort mortality. Whether the effects of insect herbivores and fungal pathogens on seedling performance can be changed by rainfall remains unresolved. This study aimed to measure the amount of fungal and herbivore damage upon seedlings in the field, and the subsequent response to this damage. I planted a total of 400 Lacistema aggregatum seedlings across four forest plots along a natural rainfall gradient in Panama. L. aggregatum naturally occurs at all of these sites, and thus, the seedlings were exposed to their natural predators and environmental conditions. At each site, 100 seedlings were planted in four pesticide treatment blocks with 25 seedlings per block. Pests were excluded by spraying these blocks of individuals at each site with one of four treatments: insecticide; fungicide; combination insecticide and fungicide; or water (control treatment). There were no consistent, significant trends for leaf gain, fungal damage or herbivory when compared between sites and treatments. This result suggests that neither the leaf gain of the seedlings of this widespread species, nor insect herbivory and pathogen damage are strongly affected by rainfall in our four sites. However, long term studies including more sites and treatment blocks, that consider more variables that may drive trends (such as soil type, nutrients, light availability, frequency of rainfall and pre-existing communities of natural enemies) are needed.