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Peachtree Borer
(Clemson University - USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org)

Common Name: Peachtree Borer

Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Sesiidae

Pest Status: Peachtree borers damage trees by tunneling into the trunks.

Appearance: At first glance, peachtree borers look more like wasps than moths. The female has a dark blue-black body with an orange band on the abdomen, dark blue front wings, and clear hind wings. The adult male is blue-black, marked with narrow yellow bands on the abdomen, thorax, head, and legs; front wings and hind wings are clear, but the edges and veins are outlined with blue-black scales.

Life Cycle: Peachtree borers overwinter as larvae under bark and pupate in spring and early summer. The adults emerge in mid-summer and early fall. Soon after the adults emerge, the females lay their eggs under bark that hatch within one week.

Where to Collect: Borers are found under the bark of fruit-bearing trees, particularly peach trees.