UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
S^nr^mfu 
BULLETIN No. 599 
Contribution from Bureau of Entomology 
L. O. HOWARD, Chief 
Washington, D. C. 
PROFESSIONAL PAPER 
March 16, 1918 
THE STRIPED PEACH WORM. 1 
By H. G. Ingekson, Scientific Assistant, Deciduous Fruit Insect Investigations. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. 
Introduction 1 
History 2 
Synonymy 2 
Food plants 3 
Feeding habits of the larva 3 
Character of injury on peach 3 
Character of injury on sand cherry 3 
Description 4 
The adult 4 
The egg 4 
Page. 
Description— Continued. 
The larva 4 
The pupa 5 
The cocoon 5 
Seasonal history and habits 5 
Summary of seasonal-history studies 11 
Parasites 12 
Remedial measures 13 
Literature cited '. 14 
INTRODUCTION. 
The striped peach worm (Gelechia confuseUa Cham.), although 
described in 1875, has received little notice as an economic species. 
The larvaa 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 larvae 
have been observed feeding on sand cherry in such numbers as to 
Aveb 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. 
1 The writer is indebted to the following members of the Bureau of Entomology staff : 
To E. H. Siegler for the photograph used in riate 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 the-spraying work in connection with the remedial measures. 
11918°— 18 
