In other years and areas, many may be present in a tree. Trees with old damage are more susceptible to repeated attacks, and subsequent invasion by fungi. Natural History Female peachtree borer moths have a superficial resemblance to wasps. Female moths, about 1 inch in length, have a steel-blue body with an orange band on the fourth and sometimes fifth abdominal segment. The forewings are blue, and the hind wings are clear with a black margin.
Male moths are slightly smaller than females and lack the orange band on the abdomen.
There may be one or more narrow yellow to white bands around the abdomen in males. There is considerable variation in general body coloration and amount of abdominal banding in males. Eggs are laid on the bark of the lower trunk or on soil near the tree in mid summer. Each female can lay between 200 and 1200 eggs. The eggs hatch in about a week, and the larvae burrow into the sapwood of the tree.