phylloxeran

Phylloxeran is a term that can refer to anything relating to phylloxera, a group of small sap-sucking insects in the family Phylloxeridae (order Hemiptera). In common usage, it most often describes aspects of the grape phylloxera pests that affect Vitis species. As a noun, phylloxeran may denote an insect of Phylloxera or, less commonly, a person who studies phylloxera.

Taxonomy and forms are variable across classifications. The best-known phylloxerans are grape phylloxera, which includes root-feeding forms such as Phylloxera vastatrix that form galls on grapevine roots, and leaf-feeding forms historically placed as Phylloxera vitifoliae. Some taxonomic treatments relocate certain species to other genera (for example, Daktulosphaira) while retaining the common reference to grape phylloxera. Phylloxera species can exhibit complex life cycles with both root-dwelling and leaf-galling generations, and populations may alternate between sexual and asexual reproduction.

Impact and management are defined by agriculture and viticulture. Phylloxera damage can stunt or kill grapevines by disrupting water and nutrient uptake. The major historical event is the 19th-century phylloxera crisis in Europe, which triggered the Great French Wine Blight. Modern mitigation relies mainly on grafting Vitis vinifera scions onto resistant North American rootstocks, along with vineyard monitoring and integrated pest management. Insecticides are limited in effectiveness against subterranean stages and are used selectively.

See also: grape phylloxera, rootstock, grafting, Vitis species, integrated pest management.