Kingdom Animalia Genus Vitacea Phylum Arthropoda Order Butterflies and moths | Class Insecta Scientific name Vitacea polistiformis Rank Species Family Sesiidae | |
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Similar Butterflies and moths, Synanthedon scitula, Paranthrene simulans, Paranthrene dollii, Synanthedon pictipes | ||
Vitacea polistiformis, the grape root borer, is a moth of the Sesiidae family. It is found throughout the midwest of the United States, south to Florida and Texas. It is the most serious threat to grapes in Florida.
Adults are brown with thin yellow bands on the abdomen and resemble paper wasps. The front wings are brown while hind wings are transparent.
The larvae feed on grape species. The eggs hatch on the soil surface and the larvae tunnels into the root system of their host plant. The damage causes reduces vine growth, smaller leaves and reduced berry size.
References
Vitacea polistiformis Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA