Grape Root Borer - Hodges#2530
Vitacea polistiformis
This record describes Vitacea polistiformis (species). Recorded family: Sesiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - excellent mimic of a paper wasp.
Identification notes
Adult - excellent mimic of a paper wasp.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Cossoidea
- Family
- Sesiidae (Clearwing Moths)
- Subfamily
- Tinthiinae
- Tribe
- Paranthrenini
- Genus
- Vitacea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Found throughout the midwest and south to Florida and Texas (William H. Taft).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae bore in the horizontal roots of wild and cultivated grapes ( Vitis ). Can be a serious pest.
Life History
See Solomon in Print References.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific name polistiformis means " Polistes -like", a genus of paper wasp.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Vitacea polistiformis. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Grape Root Borer - Hodges#2530 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Tom Bentley | Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Tom Bentley , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Grape Root Borer - Hodges#2530
What is Grape Root Borer - Hodges#2530?
Grape Root Borer - Hodges#2530 (Vitacea polistiformis) is a species in the family Sesiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Grape Root Borer - Hodges#2530?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | Forewing length 12-19 mm. |
| Wingspan | Wingspan 26-42 mm. Larva matures to 25-35 mm. |
How do you identify Grape Root Borer - Hodges#2530?
Adult - excellent mimic of a paper wasp.
Where is Grape Root Borer - Hodges#2530 found?
Range: Found throughout the midwest and south to Florida and Texas (William H. Taft).
What does Grape Root Borer - Hodges#2530 eat?
The diet of the Grape Root Borer - Hodges#2530 includes Larvae bore in the horizontal roots of wild and cultivated grapes ( Vitis ). Can be a serious pest..
What is the life cycle of a Grape Root Borer - Hodges#2530?
See Solomon in Print References.