| ‘ THE LESSER PEACH BORER. 4] 
~hymenopteriform aspect, but flying in the bright sunlight the two 
"species are easily recognized after a little practice in observing them. 
The sexes of the lesser peach borer are quite similar, but may be dis- 
tinguished by one or two minor secondary characters, such as the 
simple antenne of the female and the more robust abdomen and 
‘straight anal tuft. Probably the most available secondary character, 
however, is found in the frenulum, which in the female consists of 
wo closely applied, long, and slender spines, while in the male it is 
single and slightly shorter. This character is concealed by the front 
wings. 
The adults emerge from the pupe in the morning hours, generally 
between 7.30 and 9.30, the males issuing slightly earlier than the 
females. They are more likely to issue on clear days, being somewhat 
retarded by cloudy or inclement weather. At the time of ecdysis the 
pupa, which is projecting from the cocoon as described, commences 
peristalsis-like movements of the abdominal segments, which after 
several seconds cause the pupal integument to part rapidly along the 
meson of the thorax and the sclerites of the head and wings. Almost 
simultaneously with this parting of the pupal integument, the moth 
begins to move forward and glides out, the forelegs holding to the 
nearest object to prevent it from falling. The actual emergence re- 
ires but a few seconds. At this time the moth is perfect but -for 
folded wings, and can move with a peculiar jerky, gliding motion 
vhen it falls to the ground or is disturbed, but otherwise it prefers to 
remain motionless or to crawl to a convenient place. During the 
folding of the wings, when the moth is weak and delicate, it is 
wobably in the most critical stage of its existence. If it falls, it is 
likely to injure the soft wings and become crippled, in which case it 
rill almost certainly die a few hours later. The slightest injury at 
his period appears to be fatal directly or indirectly. The wings 
egin to swell at once and slowly expand, becoming normal after 
bout 8 to 10 minutes. After expansion, however, they are still 
eak and unfit for use for at least another half hour. 
As soon as ready for flight, the female moves to a convenient place 
nd, taking position, begins to attract the males by elevating the end 
f the abdomen and extending the ovipositor horizontally from it. 
{o perceptible odor is present. In badly infested orchards the males 
ill begin to arrive after 3 or 4 minutes, or earlier, and soon a swarm 
of a dozen or more will be humming around the female. The sexes 
unite suddenly; the male grasps the female with the claspers, and 
hen turning assumes the position normal to the Lepidoptera. Copu- 
ation may last a variable time. Mr. J. H. Beattie, then connected 
with this Bureau, observed a pair remain in copula for 65 minutes 
on August 16, 1905, at noon, and an observation made in the late sum- 
-Iner of 1906 gave 58 minutes. In case the weather is unfavorable 
10090—Bull. 68—09-——4 
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