UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Contribution from Bureau of Entomology 
L. O. HOWARD, Chief 
Washington, D. C. PROFESSIONAL PAPER March 16, 1918 
THE STRIPED PEACH WORM.* 
By H. G. IncEerson, Scientific Assistant, Deciduous Fruit Insect Investigations. 
CONTENTS. 
Page Page. 
MAP UCIIOW neers nos ielece cia = delacle inci s ce Se 1 | Description—Continued. 
LETS OINy ocasbesteonedceche so agHees Aske ss ee eee 2 Mhelanvae sit secs st Eee Gee Scene zs 
RSV AIO IVAW ese nic cinem tas miele aisle mm ols = 2 4 Male) URE inde scoooobaneA bon scocbudoAMean 5 
Gods plan iSeee a= seein a stains si = wis = win l~ 3 AMID CNC Sccomecabaanba cose seauees oro 5 
Feeding habits of the larva......--.--.------ 3 | Seasonal history and habits...........-.-.-. 5 
Character of injury on peach........-.----.-- 3 Summary of seasonal-history studies... . il 
Character of injury on sand cherry...-.------ SP ATASILES eee eis ss Se Sas SI Bee ca 12 
DESCHIMpIQU eer). acl = eyo Se ore Se ise 2 ce eS Se As OR emedialymersuresse- ss access nee ele eer é 13 
DUO CGCI Aiko Seesee aa aaE eae ae AP) Meiteratunevciteden .stics seeeciac cise sesenciame 14 
PRACIGROS eee fecss oo Seek esses 75se- 4 
INTRODUCTION. 
The striped peach worm ((Gelechia confusella Cham.), although 
described in 1875, has received little notice as an economic species. 
The larvee feed in conspicuous webs on the foliage of the peach and 
on sand cherry (Prunus pumila) in smaller but more compact webs. 
While at present this insect is not a major pest on peach, the larve 
have been observed feeding on sand cherry in such numbers as to 
web nearly every terminal, partially defoliating the host plant, 
and this shows the latent possibility of extensive injury to peach or- 
chards. 
Under the direction of Dr. A. L. Quaintance, Entomologist in 
Charge of Deciduous Fruit Insect Investigations, the writer studied 
the biology and habits of the insect during the seasons of 1915 and 
1916. The biological data secured, together with descriptions of all 
the stages and suggestions for control, are recorded in this paper. 
1The writer is indebted to the following members of the Bureau of Entomology staff: 
To E. H. Siegler for the photograph used in Plate I, figure 1; to H. K. Plank for Plate 
II, figure 1, and Plate III, figures 1, 2, and 3; to J. H. Paine for Plate II, figures 2 and 
3, and to F. L. Simanton for determining the place of oviposition on sand cherry and 
for conducting thespraying work in connection with the remedial measures, 
11918°—18 
