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How to Manage Pests
UC Pest Management Guidelines
Cherry
Peachtree Borer
Scientific Name: Synanthedon exitiosa
(Reviewed 4/06,
updated 9/06)
In this Guideline:
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Peachtree borer eggs are laid during the summer on the bark of
trees. Larvae overwinter in the tree trunk. They feed in the crown area and
burrow up into the tree. At maturity, a larva is
about 1 inch long, and has a light-colored body and a dark head. In late
spring, larvae pupate near the entrance of their burrows or in the soil. Adults
emerge from May through September; they are steel blue to black clearwinged
moths with a 1-inch wing span.
Peachtree borers can girdle and kill young trees. Older trees can
withstand the damage unless there are many larvae or the tree is attacked several
years in a row.
Look for the presence of frass and gum at the bases of trees when
monitoring orchards in the spring. Also check trees in the fall for signs of
peachtree borer activity. At this time, you can kill larvae by carefully using
a knife or wire to probe the trunk. Mark any that you find, and return to treat
them the following spring. Treat affected trees with insecticide by spraying
the trunk from the scaffold to the soil line. Apply the insecticide with a
hand-held sprayer to the tree trunk from the juncture of the main scaffold
limbs to the soil line. Cover the trunk thoroughly, using enough spray material
so it will run off to form a small puddle at the base of the tree. Use from 0.5
to 1.5 gallons per tree, depending upon the size of the trunk. Remove suckers
and pull soil away from the base of the tree before treating. Two applications
are recommended to protect during the prolonged period when adults are active,
one in mid-May when adults are first detected and one in the middle of July. Be
careful to observe preharvest intervals and use low-pressure sprays to avoid
contaminating fruit.
You can use pheromone traps to monitor adult emergence. They are
useful for determining the presence of peachtree borers. (The pheromone lure
may be listed as peachtree borer or greater peachtree borer.) Place traps in
trees no later than late April and maintain them through September, changing
lures at the recommended interval (usually one month) and the trap bottoms when
they become dirty and lose stickiness. If they catch large numbers of male
peachtree borers (approximately 10 or more per week), return later and examine
the trees carefully for signs of feeding activity. Be sure to properly identify
the moths that are trapped; other clearwing moths may be attracted by the
peachtree borer pheromone.
Keep tree bases free of vegetation to help reduce problems with
peachtree borer, especially in the Central Valley. Heat and dryness reduce the
survival of eggs and larvae.
| Common name |
Amount
to Use**
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P.H.I.+ |
| (trade name) |
(conc.) |
(dilute) |
(days) |
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| The following materials are listed
in order of usefulness in an IPM program, taking into account efficacy and impact on natural
enemies and honey bees. When choosing
a pesticide, also consider information relating to environmental impact.
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| PREHARVEST |
| A. |
CHLORPYRIFOS* |
| |
(Lorsban) 4EC |
— |
1.5–3 qt |
21 |
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MODE OF ACTION: An organophosphate (Group
1B)1 insecticide.
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COMMENTS: Use chlorpyrifos for the first
application. In Central Valley orchards where harvest is to begin in mid- to
late May, move treatment up to allow 21 days for preharvest interval. Apply
as a trunk spray, avoiding contact with foliage or premature leaf drop may
occur. Uniformly cover trunk and the wood of the lower branches. Do not make
more than 3 applications/season or allow meat or dairy animals to graze in
treated orchards. Avoid drift and runoff into surface water or choose alternative
materials. Chlorpyrifos has been found in surface waters at levels that violate federal and state water quality standards. |
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| POSTHARVEST |
| A. |
CHLORPYRIFOS* |
| |
(Lorsban) 4EC |
— |
1.5–3 qt |
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MODE OF ACTION: An organophosphate (Group
1B)1 insecticide.
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COMMENTS: Avoid contact with foliage or
premature leaf drop may occur. Do not make more than 3 applications/season or
allow meat or dairy animals to graze in treated orchards. Avoid drift and runoff
into surface water or choose alternative materials. Chlorpyrifos has been
found in surface waters at levels that violate federal and state water quality standards. |
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UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Cherry
UC ANR Publication 3440
Insects and Mites
R. A. Van Steenwyk, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley
K. M. Daane, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
J. A. Grant, UC Cooperative Extension, San Joaquin County
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