Bruised and injured tissue on branches and trunks is particularly attractive to female American plum borers and lesser peachtree borers for ovipostion. Though the relationship of increased peachtree borer damage and mechanical harvesting is not as clear, it appears probable that movement of the tree trunk during shaking provides easy access to the base of the tree just below the ground level for peachtree borer larvae on hatching, particularly larvae emerging from eggs laid on the soil near the tree. Since the advent of mechanical shakers, the status of borers attacking cherry trees has changed dramatically from minor to major pests. Upon hatching, the larvae feed on the tender growing bark at the edges of injured areas. They may continue to feed until the limb is girdled and killed.
Injured areas are also susceptible to attack by valsa canker.
In the past, the peachtree borer rarely attacked tart cherries. Now, infestations of this pest are common. Larval feeding may kill young trees by completely girdling the trunks. More mature trees may not be killed but are often severely injured and made more susceptible to other insects, diseases and environmental conditions. An organophosphate called chlorpyrifos is, to date, the only insecticide that will control in a single application both the lesser peachtree borer and the peachtree borer, as well as another major pest of cherries, the American plum borer .