THE LESSER PEACH BOREE. 45 



11 single larva of the lesser peach borer. It has been found at Oden- 

 ton and Jessup, Md. (March to May, 1005), and at Fort Valley 

 (April, May, July, 1905), and Myrtle, Ga. (March, iOOG). 



Bracon mcUitor Say is also a rather conmion parasite of the lesser 

 peach borer, and its method of attack is similar, being fatal to full- 

 grown larva; in their cocoons. After leaving the body of the host 

 the parasite larvie spin small compact cocoons side by side, Avhich 

 completely fill the host cocoon. They pass the winter in this condi- 

 tion and emerge the following spring. Thirty-four males and ?>1 

 females of this parasite were reared from two host larvu' dui-ing 

 April, 1905. The parasite also attacks the larva of the peach borer 

 and has a number of other hosts. It has been found to occur in the 

 same localities as the eulophid parasite, but in Georgia, in 1900, it was 

 rarely met with. It was rather common in Maryland in the spring 

 of 1905. A species of Microbracon was also reared from the larva in 

 Maryland and Georgia. 



During 1905, at Fort Valley, Ga., :\Ir. J. H. Beattie, then of this 

 Bureau, reared Coniini n. sp. (determined by Titus), from the lesser 

 peach borer. The parasite emerged ]\lay ^^0 from the pupa. Also in 

 j\Iay he reared Pinipla anmdipes Brulle. from the same stage of the 

 host. This is j^robably the parasite referred to by Bailey (1879). 

 Mr. Beattie also reared a species of Campoplex in May, 1905. and 

 a species of Mesosternus in May and June, at Fort Valley, from this 

 borer, making a total of six hymenopterous parasites, all of which 

 Avere determined by Mr. Titus. 



An undescribecl variety of Dorijmyrmcj- pyramicus Roger, as deter- 

 mined by INIr. Theodore Pergande, has been observed to attack the 

 larva Avhen exposed during " worming." This ant is very numerous 

 in the jieach orchards of Georgia, in the vicinity of Fort Valley, and 

 will pf oy upon any insect which it is able to overcome. Ordinarily 

 it is unable to get to this borer. Occasionally, however, it will kill 

 recently emerged moths, and any larva* which nniy have been over- 

 looked during " worming," but which had been exposed. jMr. Titus 

 reports this ant as being abundant on peach trees at Monticello, (ia., 

 in August, 1905. 



It is indicated that birds sometimes extract pupa' from cocoons 

 under loose bark, and Bailey (1879) mentions a woodpecker as ex- 

 tracting larva' from the trunk of a plum ti-ee. 



The value of the parasites of the lesser i)each borer is greater tlian 

 that of its predaceous enemies. 



PREVENTIVES AND REMEDIES. 



From the fact that this insect jn-cfcrs to attack trees which have 

 been injured or diseased, or are old, having wounded or checked bark. 



