Live and Learn...

About this time last year, I spotted a strange looking "bee" on the fig tree.  I posted that I had never seen this critter before and was curious as to just what sort of bug it was as it seemed to be wearing tiny yellow shoes.  I am one that usually goes by the motto of "Live and let live!" but this is one instance when I wish I had followed the "Smack 'em dead!" line of thinking!  This innocent-looking bug has come back to be haunt me in the worst way possible!  It has attacked my peach trees!  Early this spring, I noticed that there were not nearly as many blooms on the trees.  This bothered me a bit but I figured that most everything needed an "off" season occasionally.  These young trees have over-produced each year since we planted them so one season's rest did not upset me.  What did upset me was what I discovered this morning.  Son and I were making our usual early morning run-through of the days chores when we ambled through the gardens. Entering the peach orchard was a normal stop on our routine walk.  There, we wished to check on the Crowder peas that he had planted last week.  Yep!  Those peas were sprouting just fine!  Then a sinking feeling hit my stomach.

Peach borers!  On the trunks of several of the trees, sap oozed from tiny holes.  This sap glistened in the sun as it ran in thick globules down the rough bark.  No wonder the trees did not look healthy...they were not!  My mind went back in time as I searched my memory for any unusual bug that might have been the culprit.  The Yellow-shoed Bee came to mind.  After a bit of research, I came to the realization that I should have not been so nice to that bug!  I should have gone with instinct and smashed it to smithereens!  Now, I am seeing the damage that this innocent looking (almost cute) insect has inflicted upon my trees!  I did a bit more research trying to find a method of eradicating the borers from my trees. It seems as though the fly will lay her eggs at the base of the tree.  Once the eggs hatch, the larvae will tunnel its way through the bark and into the trunk of the tree.  There it will remain munching away until frost.  Then it will sit dormant until spring then emerge as an adult to start the process all over again. Nothing seems to get rid of them once they have tunneled their way into the trunk of the peach tree but there are some preventive methods that prove to be helpful.  Traps baited with pheromones draw the adult fly to their death.  These traps usually only last about eight weeks so it is prudent to set them when the adults are most active.  According to all I read, this activity is at its peak during the latter part of May and throughout June and July. Rarely does the egg-laying extend into August.

Now comes a pondering!  Will garlic planted at the base of the trees prevent the peach borers?  The reason I ask..Dad always insisted that garlic would keep the tree borer-free.  He had large clumps of garlic planted at the base of each tree and never seemed to have any problems.  My thought..if the fly depends upon pheromones to attract a mate, perhaps the garlicky smell messes with their ability to detect these pheromones.  It sure seems like it would be worth a try!  Then, again, this is the same man who insisted that a glass jar of water hung from a branch of the peach tree would keep worms from the fruit! Oh...come to think of it...he never was bothered with wormy peaches either.  Bring on the garlic....and the jars of water!