176 Bugs, Cicadas, Aphids, and Scale-insects 



Of all aphid species the grape-phylloxera, Phylloxera vastatrix (Fig. 248), 

 has deservedly the widest notoriety. First made known in 1853 by Fitch from 

 specimens found in New York, it was soon discovered to be well scattered on 

 wild vines over the eastern United States. "It was introduced into the 

 south of France before 1863, upon rooted vines sent from America; 

 though the insect itself was not found and described there until 1868. 

 The infection commenced at two points: one in the southeast in Gard, 

 the other in the southwest near Bordeaux. In 1868, when the nature of 

 the pest was understood, it had already invaded considerable areas. The 



FIG. 248. The grape-phylloxera. In upper left-hand corner an egg from which a male 

 has issued, next an egg from which a female has issued; in upper right-hand corner 

 winter egg; at left hand of middle row a just-hatched young, next a male (note 

 absence of mouth-parts); at right end of middle row, female; lower figure, winged 

 form. (After Ritter and Riibsaamen; much enlarged.) 



two areas first attacked gradually enlarged until they touched about the 

 year 1880, and the insect began to spread northward. By 1884 about 

 2,500,000 acres, more than one-third of all the vineyards of France, had 

 been destroyed and nearly all the rest were more or less affected. The 

 progress of the disease in parts of southern France was so rapid that in some 

 towns vine-stumps became the principal fuel. Since 1884 the pest has 

 continued to spread with somewhat less rapidity in France, partly because 

 the most densely planted vineyard districts had already been devastated, 

 but also because elsewhere its progress was retarded by quarantine and 

 other restrictive measures. No remedies yet discovered, however, are 

 capable of exterminating the pest; and to-day there is no vine-grow- 



