Improved Acoustical Monitoring Techniques for the Grape Root Borer in Florida Grapes for Better Biorational and Microbial Insecticide Applications

The grape root borer (Vitacea polistiformes (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) is one of the top insect pests of grape in Florida.  This research was conducted to determine the periods of peak larval Vitacea polistiformes (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) activities and to study the effects of soil temperatures on larval activities. Acoustic recordings from multiple root systems of muscadine grapes Vitis rotundifolia and French-American hybrids were made at the vineyard at the Center for Viticulture, FAMU, Tallahassee.  Recordings were made throughout the year to determine activity.  Times of the recordings were morning around 7 am, middle of the day between 11 am and 2 pm, evening around 7 pm and middle of the night around 1 am.  The impulses and impulse trains detected in the recordings were analyzed with customized software, DAVIS (Digitize, Analyze, and Visualize Insect Sounds).  The impulse sequences were screened to identify and characterize trains of impulses that listeners typically classify as separate, individual sounds.