SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION AND EVALUATION OF TWO TRAP TYPES FOR MONITORING GRAPE ROOT BORER VITACEA POLISTIFORMIS (LEPIDOPTERA: SESIIDAE) IN FLORIDA VINEYARDS

Sixteen vineyards from 4 grape-growing regions across Florida were evaluated for seasonal distribution and presence of grape root borer (GRB), Vitacea polistiformis Harris (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), during 2003 and 2004. Vineyards consisted of both muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia Michx.) and bunch grapes (Euvitis spp.). Grape root borer males were caught in all vineyards with Universal Moth Traps baited with female GRB pheromones, with higher captures in the northern and southern counties. Grape root borers began emerging in late Jun and early Jul in the Panhandle and southern regions. Emergence occurred in late Jul in the north-central region and in mid-Aug in the central region. Weekly trap catches indicated that peak GRB flights occurred during mid-to late Aug for the Panhandle region. In the north-central, central, and southern regions, peak flights occurred in the second and third week of Sep, coinciding with the period of grape harvest for muscadine grapes. The emergence period ceased with the onset of colder temperatures as the grapevines approached dormancy. Wing-style sticky traps were compared with Universal Moth Traps (bucket traps) in 2003 and 2004. Bucket traps were more effective and caught significantly more GRB than wing traps during both years of the study.