Lesser Peachtree Borer

Lesser Peachtree Borer (Synanthedon pictipes) - Adults are 1/2 inch long (13 mm), clear-winged moths that resemble wasps (photo above). The wingspan is 6/10 - 1 inch (15-26 mm). Females are somewhat larger than males. Both sexes are metallic blue-black with pale-yellow bands on the second and fourth abdominal segments (photo). Eggs are oval, cinnamon colored and less than one mm in size. Mature larvae (left photo below) are 3/4 to 1 inch (9-25 mm) long, with a yellowish-brown head and creamy white body. The pupal stage (right photo below) is light brown and about 1/2 inch (12-13 mm) in length. Cocoons, in which pupation occurs, are constructed of pieces of bark and frass (larval excrement) held together by silk. Initially yellowish-brown in color, cocoons become rust brown as they age.



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