Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-04-27
1a1lcaster ftltelligenrer.
TUESDAY EVENING APRIL ~, 1890.
Another Peach Tree Enemy.
Lancaster Farmer.

For the past two or three years Mr..
John NJ. Johnston, of Lancaster, has been
making frequent complaints about an old
but favorite peach tree, alleging that it
was gradually becoming weaker and
weaker, and that he had discovered about
the base of it quantities of issuing gum,
but never had found any insects. From his
report we concluded that it was infested
by the common "Peach Tree BOrer "
(1Egeria eritosa), and that when he had
made his examinations the insects had
already escaped in their matured form.
Last wear the tree was SO much en-
ervated that it scarcely had power to
leaf or blossom, and, of course, pro-
duced no fruit. This spring he removed
it. and brought US portion of the lower
end of the trunk The whole interior of
the trunk to about the height Of two feet
was in a state Of decay, and this decay ex-
tended down into the larger roots at least
one foot under the ground. A thin shell
of living wood here and there around the
exterior was all that was left as an avenue
for the ascending sap. This dead
wood was perfectly honey-combed with
galleries, containing numerous Larvae, not
of the algeria, but of a species of LANGI-
CORNIA, (probaby clytus or a saperda, or
some of their cogeners). From the fact
that number of young peach trees had
also been in a feeble condition, and which
on removal were found to be similarly
infested-some Of them perfectly gir-
died at the base-and the
roots completely barked for six
inches below the surface-evcn to the de-
struction of the woody tissue-we incline
to the opinion that these Larvae are Saper-
dams, based mainly upon the fact that We
have frequently fuond young apple trees in
the same condition, caused by Saperdans.
One of these young trees (about an inch
in diameter) contained larva in the heart
of it, working upward. MIR. Johnston
says that some years ago an old building
stood very near this peach tree, and that
on its removal the lower timbers were per-
forated similar to the trunk of the tree,
and were "full Of worms" which no care
was taken to destroy, and he supposes that
they found their way from thence into the
tree as the only place accessible to them,
for the surroundins are chiefly brick and
mortar, being in the very centre of the
city.
These Mrye are perfectly white in most
cases, a few having a tint of pink. They
are of various sizes, the largest being /
luCucS lOAsS,, dHu Ill iCllCubiSlChCS oioAhe
the thoracia segments, which are larger
than those that follow, though not nearly
SO large as they usually are in the Bupres-
tans. They are altogether footless; the
head small and of a dark brcwn color, and
the mandibles short and sharp.
Even if the peach escapes the cold wealth
er, it has yet fearful gauntlet to run.
The peach-apis, peach-coccus, peach Tomi-
cus peach-borer, peach-codling, peach-cur-
culio and several other pests, including
this last one, all seem to be lying around
like the aspirants to the throne of France
waiting for an opportunity to possess it.
We are in the effort to breed these
larya, and if we succeed we shall in due
time, We hope, be able to determine the
species. In the meantime we would ad-
monish our readers to destroy all worms
that they find in or on their trees, and thus
save themselves world of subsequent
trouble. Especially when they split up
old wood or timbers and find worms in
them, they should see that they are killed
orfed to fowls. Fowls are very fond of them
for they arc a rich and savory morsel. MIR.
J. gave his chickens quite feast when he
removed and split mp the old peach stump.
We feel confident that this matter is not
attended to as should be and could be, if
only the people determine that it would
de