{{Short description|Species of moth}} {{Speciesbox | image = Vitacea_polistiformis_adult1.jpg | image_caption = | image2 = Vitacea_polistiformis_adult2.jpg | image2_caption = | taxon = Vitacea polistiformis | authority = (Harris, 1854)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://members.mywave.at/m204259aa/Checklst.htm |title=Checklist of the Sesiidae of the World |access-date=2012-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326114209/http://members.mywave.at/m204259aa/Checklst.htm |archive-date=2012-03-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | synonyms ={{Specieslist |Aegeria polistiformis|Harris, 1854 |Trichilium polistiformis|Fitch, 1856 |Sciapteron seminole|Neumoegen, 1894 |Vitacea polistiformis'' f. ''huron|Engelhardt, 1946 }} }}
'''''Vitacea polistiformis''''', the '''grape root borer''', is a moth of the family Sesiidae. It is found throughout the midwest of the United States, south to Florida and Texas.<ref>[http://bugguide.net/node/view/167909 Bug Guide]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/pestalert/insect_pests_of_grapes.pdf |title=Insect Pests of Grapes |access-date=2011-01-04 |archive-date=2011-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110331185203/http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/pestalert/insect_pests_of_grapes.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> It can reduce productivity as much as 47%. Scientists are exploring the possibility of using soil acoustics to locate and combat infestations of pests.<ref name="Eberle">{{cite journal |last1=Eberle |first1=Ute |title=Life in the soil was thought to be silent. What if it isn’t? |journal=Knowable Magazine |date=9 February 2022 |doi=10.1146/knowable-020922-2 |url=https://knowablemagazine.org/article/living-world/2022/life-soil-was-thought-be-silent-what-if-it-isnt|doi-access=free |access-date=15 February 2022|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Adults are Batesian mimics of ''Polistes'' paper wasps.
==Gallery== <gallery> Image:Vitacea_polistiformis_larva.jpg|Larva Image:Vitacea_polistiformis_larva3.jpg |Larva Image:Vitacea_polistiformis_pupa.jpg |Pupa Image:Vitacea_polistiformis_mating.jpg |Mating </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Wikispecies}} {{Commons}} *[http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=2530 mothphotographersgroup]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q742917}}
Category:Sesiidae Category:Moths described in 1854
{{Sesiidae-stub}}