A comparison of three common indices used for estimating Nantucket pine tip moth damage in the field

A quick and efficient means to estimate Nantucket pine tip moth, Rhyacionia frustrana (Comstock), damage levels that is also a reliable indicator of upper level and whole-tree damage is highly desirable because of the large sample sizes used in growth impact studies. Correlation and regression analyses were performed on the percentage of loblolly pine, Pinus taeda L., shoots damaged in three tree strata by R. frustrana. A large data set revealed highly significant correlations between terminal, top whorl, and whole-tree damage estimates. However, terminal and whole-tree estimates were weakly correlated. Top whorl damage was strongly correlated with both terminal and whole-tree damage indices. We conclude that top whorl damage indices are an efficient estimate and a sensitive indicator of both terminal and whole-tree damage levels.