Grape phylloxera, Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch), is a serious pest of commercial grapevines worldwide. This tiny insect forms galls on leaves and roots of grapevines. It is believed that this insect originated in the Eastern United States, where damage is now most prevalent on leaves of French-American hybrid grapevines. High populations of foliar phylloxera can result in premature defoliation, reduced shoot growth, and reduced yield and quality of the crop. Grapevines can tolerate a moderate number of leaf galls without significant damage or the need for control efforts. However, small populations of phylloxera in one year may build to larger populations causing significant damage in subsequent years. Phylloxera crawlers can be spread on vineyard equipment. Therefore, when mechanical operations are performed, equipment should not be moved from an infested block to a noninfested block. Infestations may also originate from wild grapevines near the vineyard, so they should be destroyed if possible. Use insecticides labeled to control phylloxera in the spring before the galls occur. For more information see Grape Phylloxera.

Browse related Faqs by tag: grapes