ENTOMOLOGY. 63 



The peach-tree borer, M. V. Slingerland {JVeio York Cornell Sta. 

 Bid. 176, pp. 165-233, figs. 16; ahridgeded.^pp. 16, figs, i^).— The chief 

 purpose of this bulletin is to present the results of an extended series 

 of experiments with various remedies for the destruction of the peach- 

 tree borer. Besides the discussion of remedies, however, the author 

 presents an account of the ha))its and life history of the insect, so that 

 the bulletin is considered a sort of compendium of knowledge concern- 

 ing" the peach-tree borer. 



The insect lives only a short time in the adult stage and the larvte are 

 not known to leave the peach tree during their development. The dis- 

 tribution of this insect is, therefore, brought about for the most part 

 by means of infested nursery stock. The author describes the appear- 

 ance of infested trees, with an account of the gummy exudations. 



The insect is probably single brooded everywhere in the United 

 States. In New York the moths appear from June until Septeml)er. 

 The eggs are laid within a few hours after emerging, on the trunks of 

 trees from 6 to IS in. from the ground. They hatch in about a week 

 and the young larvae inuuediately make their wa}" into the bark. At 

 the beginning of winter the larva prepares for hibernation, either in 

 its burrow or in a thin case on the surface of the bark near the soil. 

 The larvae begin spring feeding about May 1^ and most of them become 

 full grown by June. The author presents an account of the natural 

 enemies of the peach borer, of which one species {Ep>hiaUes irritator) 

 was bred by him for the first time. 



The author\s experiments with remedies against the peach borer 

 extended over a period of about 4 years. An orchard of nearly 400 

 peach trees of 5 varieties was planted near the insectary for experi- 

 mental purposes. The author considers the following substances 

 injurious to the trees, and therefore dangerous: Paris green and glue, 

 Raupenleim, Dendrolene, white paint, white paint and Paris green, 

 and printer's ink. 



Among effective remedies the following arc mentioned: Hale's 

 wash (2 applications), mounding, tarred paper, tobacco stems, gas tar, 

 and digging out. In general it may be stated that remedies against 

 the peach borer are not very successful. 



Experiments in growing tansy about peach trees showed that this 

 plant had very slight efi'ect in repelling the borer, l)ut tobacco stems 

 tied about the liase of the tree had a noticeable efi'ect. In experi- 

 ments with the mounding method the soil was usually heaped up to a 

 height of from 6 to 10 in. about the base of the trees. The results 

 indicate that from one-half to seven-tenths of the borers were kept 

 out by this method. In experiments with tarred paper, which was 

 wrapped about the base of the tree, the results indicate that from one- 

 half to seven-eighths of the borers were kept out. It is suggested that 

 probably ordinary paper if carefully applied would prove as eflfective 



