The grape root borer until now has not been a severe pest of Virginia grapevines. At least one vineyard was destroyed in 1983 due to grape root borer. Basically a southeastern species, grape root borer is near the northern edge of its distribution in Virginia, although it may be a pest into several southeastern counties of Pennsylvania.
Lower populations are present in more widely distributed states as well.
Substantial research has been conducted on this pest in Georgia where it has severely affected muscadine grapes. This species overwinters as larvae in two different stages of development. They bore into the roots and crown below the soil surface, reducing the productivity of the vine. Young larvae are spread throughout the root zone while older larvae are found on larger roots close to the trunk. Ninety per cent of the pupae are within 35 cm of the trunk and the mean depth in the soil is 9-10 cm.