The Seasonal Occurrence of the Grape Root Borer, (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) in the Eastern United States²

The Grape Root Borer, Vitacea polistiformis (Harris), (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) was trapped during 1985, 1986, and 1987 in seven, nine, and 13 eastern states, respectively, with pure (E,Z)-2,13 octadecadienyl acetate or a 99:1 blend of (E,Z)-2,13 octadecadienyl acetate and (Z,Z)-3,13 Octadecadienyl acetate. The length of adult activity periods ranged from six months in Florida to two or three months in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and Ohio. Bimodal peaks of activity occurred most commonly in the South, and single peaks were most common in the North. Activity usually began in all states (except Central Florida) in June or early July, with principal activity occurring in August in the extreme South, in late July in the central states, and about the first of July in the northern states. In Central Florida, flight began in late July with principal activity in September. Twelve other species of sesiid moths were also collected with the sex attractant, including large numbers of Melittia cucurbitae (Harris), Paranthrene simulans (Grote), and Paranthrene asilipennis (Boisduval).