One of the most destructive pests of peach trees is:

• A. Peach Tree Borer
• B. Plum Curculio
• C. Diamondback Moth
• D. Gypsy Moth

Answer: (A)

Peach tree health is most at risk when a pest attacks the tree’s interior and vascular system. The peach tree borer is a trunk and branch borer; its larvae bore into the wood and feed in the area that transports water and nutrients. This direct attack on the tree’s transport tissues can girdle limbs or even kill young trees, leading to significant losses in vigor and yield. Because the damage occurs inside the trunk and main branches rather than just on fruit or leaves, the peach tree borer is considered one of the most destructive pests for peach trees.

Plum curculio mainly damages fruit by feeding on and scarring the skin and laying eggs under the surface, not the tree’s internal transport system. Diamondback moth targets leaves on crucifers, not peach trees. Gypsy moth defoliates trees but typically affects a broad range of hardwoods and not peach trees specifically.