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IPM Scouting in Stone Fruits

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About borers
IPM scouting in stone fruits > borers
Most borer larvae that are pests of stone fruit cause similar types of tree damage. All produce a reddish excrement or frass as they feed and often leave behind their pupal skins following emergence as adults. Damage from American plum borer (APB) and lesser peachtree borer (LPTB) is most often associated with trunk damage from mechanical shakers at harvest time. Paint the trunks of any trees damaged by harvesters to minimize borer injury to the tree. Pheromone lures are available to monitor adult borer activity. Use separate traps for each borer species containing a lure specific to the borer being monitored. Treatment decisions are not currently based on moth catches. Rather, moth catches are used to monitor adult activity and to help predict time of egg hatch.

Control: Trunk sprays are most effective when applied at the start of egg hatch -- generally 2 weeks after the start of adult flight.
 
Borer damage Borer damage
Typical damage from greater peach tree borer and American plum borer.
 
Distinguishing between borer larvae APB larvae
APB larvae vary in color from grayish green to purple (upper photo), while LPTB and PTB larvae are creamy white (lower photo). In addition, APB larvae tend to have a darker head capsule and thoracic shield (hardened area behind the head). Differentiating between LPTB and PTB larvae is difficult. Typically, however, LPTB is most abundant in the upper trunk and scaffold limbs. In contrast, PTB most often burrows under the bark at or near ground level.
LPTB and PTB larvae

Learn more about these borers
Additional information
This information was developed from A Pocket Guide for IPM Scouting in Stone Fruits by David Epstein, Larry J. Gut, Alan L. Jones and Kimberly Maxson-Stein. Purchase this in a pocket-sized guide for reference in the orchard from MSU Extension (publication E-2840).
The MSU IPM Program maintains this site as an access point to pest management information at MSU. The IPM Program is administered within the Department of Entomology, fueled by research from the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, delivered to citizens through MSU Extension, and proud to be a part of Project GREEEN.
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Updated 7/24/07