QUANTIFICATION OF AN AESTHETIC INJURY LEVEL AND THRESHOLD FOR AN URBAN PEST-MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AGAINST ORANGESTRIPED OAKWORM (LEPIDOPTERA, SATURNIIDAE)

The relationship between an aesthetic injury level and a threshold was quantified for orangestriped oakworm, Anisota senatoria (J. E. Smith) , infesting different-sized pin oaks, Quercus palustris (Muenchhausen) . A significant linear relationship was observed between a threshold b ased on the number of A. senatoria egg masses and an aesthetic injury level based on 25% defoliation of pin oak. Thresholds of 0.9 egg masse s predicted 25% defoliation of trees with a mean diameter at breast he ight (dbh) of 12.6 CM; 4.8 egg masses for trees with a mean dbh of 19. 1 cm; 6.6 egg masses and a mean dbh of 26.4 cm, and 9.0 egg masses for trees with a mean dbh of 35.4 cm. Quantification of an aesthetic inju ry level and threshold provided a practical decision-making guideline for an integrated pest management program for A. senatoria.