Identification
Male black with yellow marks, transparent wings with black edges; male has black scales between the eyes, and yellow scales between the antennae, which differentiates it from the male Lesser Peachtree Borer (S. pictipes) - see See Also section below.
Female bluish-black, with broad yellow or orange band on abdomen, dark wings; likely a wasp mimic. Antennae completely black in both sexes.
Range
Includes eastern and central North America.
Food
Larvae bores into trunks of peach trees and relatives in the family Rosaceae.
Remarks
Can be a major pest in orchards.
See Also
Males of the
Lesser Peachtree Borer (
S. pictipes) have yellow scales on the top of the head between the eyes, and black scales between the antennae, whereas males of
exitiosa have the reverse combination: black scales between the eyes, and yellow scales between the antennae.
The
Apple Bark Borer has yellow apical half of antennae.
The
Willow Borer has white apical half of antennae.
Print References
Covell, p. 427, plate 60
(1)
Salsbury, p. 302--photos of male and female
(2)Internet References
identification field marks distinguishing male Peachtree Borers from Lesser Peachtree Borers (Pennsylvania State U.)
