PEACH-TREE. 
237 
COCOON AND PUPA. 
gradually to spread from thence in every direction, and appeared in New Hamp- 
shire, near the northern limit of the peach region, in about the year 1805, and 
has since extended to the southern states, and west of the Alleghany Mountains. 
" The eggs, from which these borers are hatched," says Dr. Harris, " are depos- 
ited, 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 chrysalides, 
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 state of Massachusetts. Here, 
although there are several broods produced by a succession of hatches, there is 
but one rotation of metamorphoses 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 advanced, 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 colour 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 colour on the shins. It expands 
about one inch. The fore-wings of the female are blue, and 
opaque, 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-coloured belt. It expands an inch and a half or more. This insect does 
not confine its attacks to the peach-tree. I have repeatedly 
obtained both sexes from borers inhabiting the excrescences 
which are found on the trunks and limbs of the cherry-tree ; 
and moreover, I have frequently taken them in connection 
on the trunks of cherry and of peach-trees. They sometimes 
deposit their eggs in the crotches of the branches of the 
peach-tree, where the borers will subsequently be found; 
but the injury sustained by their operations in such parts, 
bears no comparison to that resulting from their attacks at 
the base of the tree, which they too often completely girdle, and thus cause its 
premature decay and death."* Hitherto, various means have been resorted to 
for repelling or destroying these vile offenders, and many of them have been more 
(or less effectual, but none have been attended with complete success, except in 
removing the earth from the base of the tree, and crushing the borers to death. 
|ind destroying the eggs and cocoons. A small quantity of leached wood-ashes, 
pr of newly-slaked lime, added to the roots and then covered with earth, has 
proved advantageous, not only in warding off the borers, but in promoting the 
idgour of the trees. On this subject, Judge Peters remarks, in the <: Memoirs of the 
* See Harris' Report, p. 233. 
MALE. 
FEMALE. 
