Grape Trunk Borer, Clytoleptus albofasciatus (Laporte and Gory) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Immature forms, or larvae, of the grape trunk borer sometimes infest dead wood of the trunks of the older grapevines. . Larvae do not feed on living wood tissue. The adult beetle is brown to black with red and yellow markings. Its antennae are nearly as long as the entire body. The beetle is about 5/8 inch long.

The beetle lays eggs on grape trunks. Newly emerged larvae burrow into the grape trunk at cracks, old pruning scars and pruning stumps where dead wood is present. Larvae feed inside the trunk for two seasons; a fully grown larva is white and about 3/4 inch long. During the second season, the larvae pupate within the trunk and emerge as adults. Emergence holes of the adults may be seen in the dead wood.

A common method of dealing with this insect is to cut off the old trunk and start a renewal trunk from the roots; nevertheless, the grape trunk borer appears not to be of economic importance.

Current pesticide recommendations may be found HERE

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