332 LEPIDOPTERA. 



tomology." In the fifth volume of the "New England 

 Farmer " I have given the history of this insect, have men- 

 tioned the principal authors who have noticed it, and rec- 

 ommended preventive measures, which have been found 

 effectual in protecting the peach-tree from its most serious 

 attacks. 



The eggs, from which these borers are hatched, are 

 deposited, 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 ot 

 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 



Ei 162 ^hey are transformed to chrysalids (Fig. 162), 

 (Plate V. Fig. 7, chrysalis from which the moth 

 has escaped,) 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 (Plate V. Fig. 6), which is much smaller than 

 the female, has all the wings transparent, but bordered 



