Biology:Vitacea polistiformis

Vitacea polistiformis
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Sesiidae
Genus:	Vitacea
Species:	V. polistiformis
Binomial name
	Vitacea polistiformis; (Harris, 1854)
Synonyms
	Neumoegen, 1894 Harris, 1854 ; Engelhardt, 1946 Trichilium polistiformis; Aegeria polistiformis Fitch, 1856 ; Sciapteron seminole Vitacea polistiformis f. huron;

Short description: Species of moth

Vitacea polistiformis, the grape root borer, is a moth of the family Sesiidae. It is found throughout the midwest of the United States , south to Florida and Texas .^[2] 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.^[3] It can reduce productivity as much as 47%. Scientists are exploring the possibility of using soil acoustics to locate and combat infestations of pests.^[4]