The Canadian Horticulturist. 



THE GRAPE PHYLLOXERA (PHYLLOXERA VASTATRIX) 



PLANCHON. 



1^ HERE are few injurious insects so well-known by name as the 

 notorious Phylloxera which has been the cause of such enormous 

 losses to the grape growers of France, Italy, Spain and other coun- 

 tries in Europe. This pernicious insect is a native of America and 

 has been introduced into the vineyards of Europe with American 

 grape-vines. It has become thoroughly established there and now 

 every year commits most serious depredations, such indeed as 

 are unheard of on this side of the Atlantic. The life-history of this insect is 

 very remarkable and was worked out with great skill by the late Prof. C V. 

 Riley who published a full account of it in his celebrated Missouri Reports. In 

 Saunders' " Insects Injurious to Fruits," the main points of the life-history are 

 given as well as in Weed's " Insects and Insecticides." There would be no useful 

 end attained in giving the readers of the Canadian Horticulturist all the details 

 of this long and complicated history. Those wishing to study it can find it in the 

 above named works. Suffice it to saythat there are two forms of this insect 



Fig.— 995. Brighton Vink Covered With Phylloxera Leaf Galls. 



with very different habits ; the first produces greenish-red or yellow galls on the 

 foliage as shown in the illustration ; the other, which is the most injurious, 

 attacks the roots, causing swelling on the young rootlets, which finally decay, 

 and thus the root system of the vine is destroyed. The winter is passed in a 

 dormant condition on the roots. When growth begins in the spring, the lice 



