

PHYLLOXERA VASTATBIX. 53 



rapid spread of one animal, effected almost entirely 

 through man's unwilling agency. 



Thirty years ago the insect was unknown, although 

 its existence in North America must date many 

 thousand years back. Now it has crossed the Atlantic, 

 spread over the greater part of Southern Europe, 

 touched at Cape Colony in Africa, and brought its 

 baneful influence to bear on the vineyards of Aus- 

 tralia. 



The earliest notice that I have found of the grape 

 Aphis occurs in 1856, at page 158 of the First and 

 Second Eeport on the Noxious Insects of the State of 

 New York, by Dr. Asa Fitch. He there speaks of the 

 " grape-leaf louse," which he names Pemphigus viti- 

 folii. He describes the galls made by this insect as 

 small and globular, about the size of peas, raised on the 

 margins of the vine leaves in early June. These galls 

 at that time contained only wingless females. He 

 gives no printed diagnosis of the insects, but he refers 

 to certain MS. notes which do not appear to have been 

 published. 



The Aphis mils viniferce of Scopoli and of Fabricius, 

 appears to be quite a different insect.* 



Although Phylloxera vastatrix was known in England 

 in 1863, it does not appear to have reached California, 

 in Western America, till 1871. Prof. E. W. Hilgard 

 remarks on the modifying influence of climate as to the 

 development of the aerial form, which condition may 

 be thought to favour its rapid extension. Yet doubtless 

 the introduction of the egg through the vine root has 

 done infinitely more injury than any possible flight of 

 the insect ; which must be confined to districts where 

 the vine flourishes, and cannot extend itself over barren 

 plains and oceans. 



The vine Phylloxera is not indigenous to Great 

 Britain ; but it has certainly been imported into our 

 graperies and hothouses, where the even temperature 

 seems favorable to its growth if permitted. The 



* Scopoli, 'Ent. Cam.,' 398 ; Fabr., ' But. Syst.,' iv, 220. 



