Insect
Grape Phylloxera
Microscopic aphid-like insects that attack grape roots and sometimes leaves, forming galls and disrupting nutrient uptake, causing progressive vine decline.
Symptoms to Look For
- Gradual decline in vine vigour over several seasons
- Yellow or reddish galls on leaf undersides on susceptible varieties
- Root galls and rotting of fine feeder roots visible on excavation
Affected Plants
Grape
Organic Solutions
Resistant rootstocks
Graft vines onto resistant American rootstocks which tolerate phylloxera feeding on roots without fatal damage - the only reliable long-term approach.
Sandy soil culture
Plant vines in sandy soils where phylloxera movement is more difficult and populations build up more slowly than in clay soils.
Prevention
- Never move soil, tools, or plant material from a known infested vineyard without decontamination
- Inspect new vine purchases for root galls before planting
Garden, by Willowbottom recommends only organic, wildlife-friendly solutions. No synthetic pesticides, no harmful chemicals - ever.