ota eS 
THE PEACH BORER:' HOW TO PREVENT 
OR LESSEN ITS RAVAGES; THE PARA- 
DICHLOROBENZENE TREATMENT. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. Page. 
averita ple sCOUllC.. =. scares. se 0h- veick cide 3 | How to control the pest—Continued. 
MMMTACLOMOLLOIUNY = - 2 -fee se e- sos ens- 52205 3 The para-dichlorobenzene treatment— 
How theinsect develops and lives........... t Continued. 
ow. to control the pest. =... -t2n0-2iicenl. 7 Preparing the trees. .............---. 12 
SAVUOMUIDITIE acs ee Pee te ce ee Te 8 Applying the “paradichlor’’........ 13 
The para-dichlorobenzene treaty ment.:2.. 10 Important points to remember... -.. 13 
Para-dichlorobenzene described... ...- 10 Danger of injuring trees............. 14 
When to apply it......- oe Sok ia el 11 
A VERITABLE SCOURGE. 
Among insect pests attacking the peach few, if any, are more 
important or more serious than the peach borer. Its injuries each 
year, including the cost of control measures, amount probably to 
not less than $6,000,000. Throughout much of its range of distri- 
bution east of the Rocky Mountains, from Canada south to Florida, 
it is a veritable scourge and must be combated relentlessly if the 
peach is to be grown. Trees of all ages, from those in the nursery 
to the oldest relic, are subject to attack. In many parts of the coun- 
try the insect is so abundant that most trees in orchards become 
infested within a year or so after planting. 
The peach borer is a native insect and has been complained of 
in horticultural and other literature almost from the time of the 
introduction of the peach in this country by the early settlers. Its 
orignal food plants were doubtless the wild cherry and wild plum, 
and on these it can still be found. It attacks also other stone fruits, 
such as nectarine, apricot, prune, almond, plum, and a few other 
plants. It is, however, preeminently injurious to the peach. 
CHARACTER OF INJURY. 
Injury is done by the larva, or borer, in the course of its feeding. 
Trees are injured principally at or somewhat below the ground level, 
and galleries or burrows are eaten in the soft bark or cambium at 
the crown of the trees or along the larger roots (fig. 1). Young trees 
may soon be more or less girdled (fig. 2) and older trees so injured 
that their vitality and crop-bearing capacity are greatly reduced. 
1 Aigehn exitiosa Say; order ‘Gepiiee tern: family Sesiidae. 
63746°—21 3 
