About Synanthedon exitiosa (Say, 1823)
Synanthedon exitiosa, commonly known as the peachtree borer, is a species of moth in the family Sesiidae that is native to North America.
Adult females of this species have a wingspan of approximately 3.5 centimeters. Their bodies are dark metallic blue with an orange band around the abdomen. Females have opaque forewings and clear hindwings. Males are smaller and more slender than females, and both pairs of their wings are clear.
Full-grown larvae reach up to 3.5 centimeters in length, they are white with a brown head. The host plants for this species are trees and shrubs in the genus Prunus, including peach, cherry, and apricot. Females lay eggs around the base of host tree trunks; after hatching, the larvae bore into the trunk and feed on the cambium. The damage they cause is often severe enough to kill the host tree.
