The peachtree borer, Synanthedon exitiosa, attacks stone fruits, especially peaches and nectarines.
Damage is found either in the crown area or the lower part of the trunk near the soil line.
These pests can girdle and kill healthy young trees. Older trees are sometimes attacked, but they usually tolerate the damage unless there are many larvae or a tree is attacked several years in a row. Symptoms and Diagnosis Holes appear in the lower part of the trunk or in the upper trunk and lower crotches. A thick, gummy or jellylike sap often oozes from these holes. Sawdust may surround the holes or collect at the base of the tree.