Peach twig borer

Anarsia lineatella

36 host plants

Last updated

Data Maturity Baseline

This profile contains verified pest data from extension databases. Regional field notes and expert review are in progress.

You will find dead shoot tips with oozing gum on peach, nectarine, apricot, and plum trees beginning at spring budbreak. Larvae bore into new shoots, feeding until late spring, leaving frass and gum accumulation at entry holes. Larvae overwinter in hibernacula under bark in limb crotches. This borer produces three complete generations annually in Washington. Twig damage is most obvious on young trees.

Cut out flagged twigs below the bored area, removing larvae inside. Apply dormant sprays of spinetoram or spinosad in late winter to kill overwintering larvae. Time growing season sprays at pre-bloom and petal fall stages. Hand-remove larval galleries when populations are light.

Quick Reference

Order
Lepidoptera
Type
borer
Host Plants
36

Monitoring & Action

How to Monitor

Scout for flagged shoots (wilted or dead terminal growth) indicating larval mining activity.

Cultural Controls

  • A tiny wasp parasitizes eggs of the peach twig borer.
  • Avoid use of broad-spectrum insecticides whenever possible to conserve beneficial insects.
  • Cut out flagging twigs below the mined portion.
  • Be sure to kill larvae inside.
  • Overwintering larvae may be found under thin bark in branch crotches.
  • Look for a buildup of chewed bark and frass (excrement).

Host Plants (36)

Prunus americana Wild Plum American (Red) Plum August Plum, Goose Plum Prunus armeniaca Apricot Prunus avium Sweet Cherry Prunus besseyi Sand Cherry, Western Sand Cherry Prunus blireiana Blireiana Plum Prunus caroliniana Carolina Cherrylaurel American Cherrylaurel Prunus cascade Prunus cascade Prunus cerasifera Cherry, Plum Prunus cistena Purpleleaf Sandcherry Redleaf Sandcherry Cistena Sandcherry Cistena Plum Prunus dream Prunus dream Prunus emarginata Bitter Cherry, Wild Cherry, Quinine Cherry Prunus first Prunus first Prunus fruticosa Steppe Cherry, European Dwarf Ground Cherry, Mongolian Cherry Prunus glandulosa Dwarf Flowering Almond Prunus ilicifolia Hollyleaf Cherry, Holly-leaved Cherry Prunus laurocerasus Cherry, Laurel Prunus lusitanica Portugal Laurel Prunus maackii Amur Chokecherry Amur Cherry, Manchurian Cherry Prunus mume Japanese Apricotc Japanese Flowering Apricot Japanese Flowering Plum Prunus newport Newport Flowering Plum Prunus okame Okame Flowering Cherry Prunus padus European Birdcherry Common Birdcherry Prunus prostrata Rock Cherry, Mountain Cherry Prunus sargentii Sargent Cherry, Sargent's Cherry Prunus serotina Black Cherry, Rum Cherry Prunus serrula Birchbark Cherry, Paperbark Cherry, Tibetan Cherry Prunus serrulata Japanese Flowering Cherry Prunus snow Prunus snow Prunus subcordata Klamath Plum, Sierra Plum, Pacific Plum Prunus subhirtella Higan Cherry Prunus subhirtella var. autumnalis Autumn Flowering Higan Cherry Prunus tai Prunus tai Prunus virginiana Prunus virginiana Prunus virginiana var. demissa Western Chokecherry Prunus virginiana var. virginiana Common Chokecherry, Eastern Chokecherry Prunus yedoensis Yoshino Cherry, Somei-yoshino Cherry, Tokyo Cherry