LEPIDOPTERA. 233 



Philadelphia," and subsequently gave a representation and ac- 

 count of it in his " American Entomology." In the fifth volume 

 of the "New England Farmer," I have given the history of this 

 insect, have mentioned the principal authors who have noticed 

 it, and recommended preventive measures, which have been found 

 effectual in protecting the peach-tree from its most serious attacks. 

 The eggs, from which these borers are hatched, are deposited, in 

 the course of the summer, upon the trunk of the tree near the 

 root ; the borers penetrate the bark, and devour the inner bark 

 and sap-wood. The seat of their operations is known by the 

 castings and gum which issue from the holes in the tree. When 

 these borers are nearly one year old, they make their cocoons 

 either under the bark of the trunk or of the root, or in the earth 

 and gum contiguous to the base of the trees ; soon afterwards 

 they are transformed to chrysalids, and finally come forth in the 

 winged state, and lay the eggs for another generation of borers. 

 The last transformation takes place from June to October, most 

 frequently, however, during the month of July, in the Stale of 

 Massachusetts. Here, although there are several broods produc- 

 ed by a succession of hatches, there is but one rotation of meta- 

 morphoses consummated within a year. Hence borers, of all 

 sizes, will be found in the trees throughout the year, although it 

 seems to be necessary that all of them, whether more or less ad- 

 vanced, should pass through one winter before they appear in the 

 winged state. Under its last form, this insect is a slender, dark 

 blue, four-winged moth, having a slight resemblance to a wasp or 

 ichneumon-fly, to which it is sometimes likened. The two sexes 

 differ greatly from each other, so much so, as to have caused 

 them to be mistaken for two distinct species. The male, which 

 is much smaller than the female, has all the wings transparent, but 

 bordered and veined with steel-blue, which is the general color of 

 the body in both sexes ; the palpi or feelers, the edges of the col- 

 lar, of the shoulder-covers, of the rings of the abdomen, and of the 

 brush on the tail, are pale yellow, and there are two rings of the 

 same yellow color on the shins. It expands about one inch. 

 The fore-wings of the female are blue, and opake, the hind- 

 wings transparent, and bordered and veined like those of the male, 

 and the middle of the abdomen is encircled by a broad orange-^ 



30 



