Adult peachtree borers are clearwing moths, but resemble wasps. They are generally dark bluish-black with one to several yellow or orange bands circling the abdomen. The wings are clear with a 1¼ inch wingspan. The larva is 1¼ inches long and cream-colored with a brown head.

Peachtree borers are native to North America and cause damage in young stone fruit trees such as peach, cherry, plum, nectarine and apricot. The adult moths are active between mid June and early August; the larvae begin feeding on the trees mid-summer to fall as eggs hatch and mature.

Peachtree borer larvae primarily cause damage to young stone fruit trees. The adult females lay eggs on the trunk. As the eggs hatch the larvae travel down the tree trunk to the base of the tree and bore into the bark. Larvae feed from the main roots to about 10 inches up the trunk. They often enter the tree through a wound, feed on the growing tissue and inner bark, and can eventually girdle the tree.

When planting a young stone fruit tree, it is important to avoid damaging the bark. You may also want to treat the roots and base of the trunk with an insecticide prior to planting. Since it is difficult to kill the borer larvae once they have burrowed under the tree's bark, it is important to time treatment with insecticides to coincide with the hatching of the borer eggs in summer. Use an insecticide labeled for control of peachtree borers. An annual treatment in August may be appropriate; consult the insecticide label for proper timing of treatment.