Moths are attracted to the trees that are infected with Cytospora canker or have been mechanically injured. The female moth is capable of lying several hundreds eggs that will hatch within 10 days after deposition. White larvae with yellowish-brown heads will start to bore into the trunk using openings in the bark. The presence of wood chips, sawdust and frass in cankered areas are good indicators of lesser peach tree borers presence in the orchard. In contrary to the greater peach tree borer which feeds mainly in the lower part of the trunk, the signs of lesser peach tree borer activity can be localized in any part of the tree.
Pheromone traps are available for LPTB monitoring.
Mating disruption for the control of LPTB is available for peach, nectarine, cherry, prune, plum and apricot. The Isomate LPTB pheromone was registered in 1999 for the control of this pest. Dispensers release pheromones for about 100- 120 days and should be placed in the orchard before moth emergence in the spring. It is important to remember that dispensers have to be uniformly distributed throughout the entire block. Similarly, as with most mating disruption systems, the full effect of the treatment may not be visible until next moth generation.