Grape Root Borer, Vitacea polistiformis (Harris) 

Description and Life Cycle

Larvae of the grape root borer attack the larger roots and crown of grapevines.  They tunnel into these parts of the plant and feed internally.  The feeding and boring of the larvae will weaken and may eventually kill the vine.

The adult is a clear-wing moth, with the forewings brown and the hindwings clear with brown borders.  The body mimics that of a wasp, brown with yellow markings.  Male moths measure about 5/8 inch in length, while the female is larger, about 3/4 inch long.  The moths emerge from the soil during July and August.  Eggs are deposited individually on grape leaves or weeds, or dropped on the ground close to the trunk.  The larvae hatch and burrow into the soil, find their way to the roots and crown, and feed on them.  Larvae continue to feed within the vine's root system for about 22 months.  A fully developed larva is about 1 1/2 inches long and white with a brown head capsule.  Mature larvae move to places just under the surface of the soil and pupate in earthen cells.  Adults start emerging in July and continue to emerge through August.

Damage Symptoms

Larvae attack the roots and crown of grapevines.  They tunnel into the roots or crown and feed internally.  Feeding and boring weaken the grapevine and may eventually kill it.  Larvae also provide entry points for disease organisms.  Vines that are severely infested may wilt under stress, sometimes only part of the vine will show stress.

Management

Weed control is important in managing this insect pest.  Weed control decreases the number of oviposition sites and provides an area under the trellis suitable for applying an insecticide.  Researchers in North Carolina also have achieved good control of root borers with polyethylene mulch, this technique can be easily accomplished at planting.  It works well for a while but the mulch must be maintained over the years in order to be successful.

An alternative method of control using pheromone rope ties to disrupt the males of the grape root borer is being tested by researchers at Ohio State University.  This method prevents the male root borers from locating the female borers and mating, thus reducing the number of fertile root borer females in a treated vineyard.  Ties are dispensed manually at a rate of 100 ties/acre.  They should be placed on the top trellis wire every 6 or 7 vines.  Results from these trials look promising, but bringing the borer population down to acceptable levels requires several years.  Another method of utilizing the grape root borer pheromone for control is being studied at two southern Ohio vineyards.  This method utilizes the sex pheromone and 1C pherocon traps.  Traps baited with the pheromone are placed throughout the vineyard in an attempt to reduce the number of males available for mating.  This study has been underway for­3 years now and the male population is continuing to decline by an average of about 30% per year.        External woodlots containing wild grapes are a good source of grape root borers.  Such areas adjacent to vineyards should be considered when trying to manage this pest.  Extermination of wild grapes from within these areas may help to reduce root borer pressure.

Chemical control of this pest is difficult due to its cryptic nature.  Chlorpyrophos is the only chemical currently labeled for control of grape root borer.  This treatment should be applied to the ground immediately under the grape trellis when the first adults are captured in the pheromone traps.  This application provides a toxic barrier which newly hatched larvae must penetrate to gain access to the grape vines root system. 

Monitoring