THE PEACH-TREE BORER. 333 



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

 the body in both sexes ; the palpi or feelers, the edges 

 of the collar, 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 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- 

 colored 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 inhabit- 

 ing the excrescences which are found on the trunks and 



o 



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 prema- 

 ture decay and death. 



The following plan, Avhich was recommended by me in 

 the year 1826, and has been tried with complete success 

 by several persons in this vicinity, will effectually protect 

 the neck, or most vital part of the tree, from injury. Re- 

 move the earth around the base of the tree, crush and 

 destroy the cocoons and borers which may be found in it, 

 and under the bark, cover the wounded parts with the 

 common clay composition, and surround the trunk with 

 a strip of sheathing-paper eight or nine inches wide, which 

 should extend two inches below the level of the soil, and 

 be secured with strings of matting above. Fresh mortar 

 should then be placed around the root, so as to confine 

 the paper and prevent access beneath it, and the remaining 

 cavitv may be filled with new or unexhausted loam. This 



