Phylloxera and Grape Industry Board of South Australia

Biology and behaviour

Biodynamics of Phylloxera
Life cycle of Phylloxera
A guide to the identification and control of phylloxera (download brochure)

Biodynamics of Phylloxera

Phylloxera are most mobile, thus most likely to spread, during the warmer periods of the year. Likely numbers are summarised in the table below.

Table 1. Conditions affecting phylloxera populations

Time of the year	Phylloxera stage	Vinifera vines	Rootstocks, American varieties
Winter	eggs, overwinter nymphs, overwinter	on roots roots, under bark	roots & leaf galls roots, under bark
		(Both forms may be spread on vinecuttings or rootlings
Spring	nymphs or crawlers	present on roots	present on roots and leave
		(Mobile, move through soil, invade new vine roots. Climb up vine trunk. Reproduce asexually, several generations)
Summer	crawlers	Very active on roots	on roots & leaves
		(May spread by being wind blown)
	winged adults	absent	present, eggs hatch to sexual form, lay eggs.
		(Winged adults spread by flying)
Autumn	nymphs	Active, mobility slows as temperature falls.
		become dormant	sexual forms mate
	eggs	present, overwinter	produce winter eggs

The first instar 'crawler' stage is the most common form in which phylloxera spreads; in soil (either deliberately moved or accidentally on plants, shoes, vehicles), on roots of transplanted rootlings, on cuttings, by wind dispersal and by being carried on leaves, stems or fruit by machinery, grape bins, vehicles and clothing.

Some processes and conditions affecting the survival of phylloxera, hence suitable disinfestation procedures, are listed in table 2 below.

Table 2. Survival of phylloxera under various conditions

Operation	Conditions	Effect on Phylloxera	Application
Vineyard work	Soil Vine parts Grapes	Survive in soil, on vine fragments, grapes. At humidity < 50%, die within 24 hours	Clean vehicles, machines
Propagation	Take cuttings from ingested vines Hot water	Nymphs survive 30 min x 50°C or 5 min x 55°C kills	Retain in VDD. Hot water treatment
Disinfestation	Clean surface, plus - hypochlorite - ethanol - dry heat - wet heat	2% [Cl] kills 10% solution kills 45°C kill in 2 hours 70°C kill in 5 mins	Disinfest Shoes, Snips etc. Machines Bins
	Spray insecticide	Domestic fly spray kills on contact	Clothing, Inside cars
	Sulphur dioxide	At 100ppm kills	Sulphite pads in table grape packs
Grape harvest	Whole grapes	Survive	Restrict movement
Grape crushing and processing	Fresh must Juice with solids Clarified juice	Survive Some survive Removed with solid wastes	Ferment Ferment Filter or centrifuge
	Sweet marc, solids	Some survive	Disposal of waste
	Fermentation	Killed in 48 hours	Ferment if at risk

Life cycle of phylloxera

Source: New Scientist 17/4/93

A Guide to the Identification, Prevention and Control of Grape Phylloxera

Click below to download a brochure on the biology and behaviour of phylloxera, prepared by the National Vine Health Steering Committee and the National Phylloxera Technical Reference Group, and funded by GWRDC, Department of Primary Industries Victoria and the Phylloxera and Grape Industry Board of South Australia.

A guide to the identification, prevention and control of phylloxera [1.2Mb PDF file]