Peach Tree Borer: How to Control Them Naturally

Peach Tree Borer

Synanthedon exitiosa

Wasp-like moths whose larvae tunnel under the bark near the soil line, leaving orange, jelly-like ooze. They can kill young trees.

How to control peach tree borer

Use: Scanmask Spray (also works: Scanmask Topdressing, Ecomask Spray, Ecomask Topdressing)
When: March to August.
Where: The soil around the trunk and drip zone (the area under the outer edge of the branches).

Shop Scanmask Spray

What it looks like

Adult peach tree borers are moths with a wingspan of about 1 inch that are often mistaken for wasps. The males are smaller, with steel-blue bodies. The females are larger, with an orange band around the body.

Most peach tree borers complete their life cycle in one year. They lay eggs in summer, which hatch in about a week. The larvae spend the winter in the tree near the soil line, change into pupae in late spring, and come out as adults from May to September.

Damage

Peach tree borer larvae feed on the sapwood just under the bark, usually close to the soil line. When borers are present, the tree oozes a slightly orange, jelly-like substance. Peach tree borers can kill young trees. They can also leave trees with peeling bark and make them more likely to get other pests and diseases.

How nematodes help

The beneficial nematodes in BioLogic's products hunt down and kill peach tree borer larvae under the bark at the soil line and in the soil around the base of the tree. Scanmask stops the larvae from doing more damage and keeps them from growing into adults and reproducing.

How to apply

Treat with Scanmask from March to August, on the soil around the trunk and drip zone, where the larvae live near the soil line. Ecomask also works once the soil warms to about 68°F.

See How to apply for step-by-step directions, or use the calculator on the Scanmask Spray page to see how much you need for the drip zone.