of 25 to 30 mm. There is an orange band on the fourth abdominal 
segment and a tuft of orange scales at the tip of the abdomen. 
Mature larvae are white to pink and 25 mm. long. 
Kiggs are deposited on the bark during June and July, usually 
near a wound, on old scars, or just below a branch. The larvae 
bore in the inner bark and sapwood, excavating more or less 
transverse tunnels and cause copious flows of pitch. This pitch 
accumulates in masses 3 to 4 inches in diameter at the entrance 
hole. Pupation occurs in the pitch mass, and when the moth 
emerges the empty pupal case is left sticking out of the mass. The 
life cycle requires 2 to 3 years. Although not a killer of trees, this 
species causes some lumber degrade as a result of its activities. 
No practical control methods are known for use on forest grown 
trees. Borers in shade, ornamental, or park trees may be removed 
with a knife. 
The persimmon borer, Sannina uroceriformis Walker, occurs 
from southern Maryland to Kansas, Texas, and the Gulf Coast 
and feeds as a larva in the solid wood of the base and tap roots of 
persimmon. The adult is mostly bluish-black and has a wingspread 
of 28 to 32 mm. Full-grown larvae are up to 30 mm. long. Trees 
growing in cut over areas and in hedge rows are particularly sub- 
ject to infestation. Young trees in nurseries are also damaged 
seriously at times. The life cycle requires 2 or 8 years. 
The lilac borer, Podosesia syringiae syringiae (Harris) (fig. 
159), occurs throughout the eastern half of the United States and 
Canada. It attacks lilac and privet and other trees and shrubs of 
Oleaceae. The adult has a wingspread of 26 to 38 mm. Southern 
adults have the thorax and abdominal segments two and three 
almest entirely chestnut-red, only narrowly edged with black. 
Northern ones have these parts mostly brown-black with edgings 
of yellow or chestnut-red. The larvae bore into the main stems of 
lilac and privet, causing them to wilt, take on an unhealthy ap- 
pearance, or break. Winter is spent in the larval stage, and there 
is one generation per year. Borers in lilacs can be killed by 
inserting a flexible wire or injecting a fumigant into their 
burrows. 
The ash borer, Podosesia syringiae fraxini (Lugger) (fig. 160), 
occurs from Texas north through the Midwestern States to Mani- 
toba and Saskatchewan. It attacks green, white, red, and Euro- 
COURTESY CONN. AGR. EXPT. STA. 
FIGURE 159.—Adult, pupal 
case, and larval tunnel of 
the lilac borer, Podosesia 
syringiae syringiae. 
400 
