The peachtree borer is a native North American pest that causes serious damage to peach, cherry, plum, nectarine, and apricot.
Damage is caused by the larval stage, primarily to younger trees.
Larvae tunnel into the roots and lower trunks of the hosts feeding on the growing tissue and inner bark. Young trees may be completely girdled and older trees may have their crop bearing capacity greatly reduced. Infested trees may yellow and eventually die as the larvae girdle the tree at the crown. Unlike the majority of moths, these fly during the day and are most active from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The female and male moths differ in appearance.