Grape phylloxera

Alert

Be on the lookout for grape phylloxera and report any sightings immediately.

Reporting options

Phylloxera feeding on a grapevine root

Phylloxera feeding on a grapevine root

© Victorian Government. Reproduced with permission.

Scanning electron microscope image of an adult phylloxera

Scanning electron microscope image of an adult phylloxera

© Victorian Government. Reproduced with permission.

Phylloxera adults, crawlers and eggs on a match head—adults are about 1mm in length

Phylloxera adults, crawlers and eggs on a match head—adults are about 1mm in length

© Victorian Government. Reproduced with permission.

Grapevines with phylloxera become unhealthy, their roots rot, leaves yellow and eventually they can die

Grapevines with phylloxera become unhealthy, their roots rot, leaves yellow and eventually they can die

© Victorian Government. Reproduced with permission.

Grape phylloxera is a serious pest of grapevines. It causes significant production losses and grapevine death.

The presence of grape phylloxera can affect the movement of fruit and other carriers of grape phylloxera between Australian states and territories.

Grape phylloxera is present in parts of New South Wales and Victoria.

Movement restrictions are in place to help prevent its introduction into Queensland. There is a nationally recognised grape phylloxera exclusion zone (PDF, 469KB) in central inland Queensland to protect the state's main table grape production areas.

Scientific name

Daktulosphaira vitifoliae

Other names

  • Grapevine phylloxera
  • Grape leaf louse
  • Phylloxera
  • Vine louse

Description

Adults

  • Adults are small (0.7–1.0mm long) and oval-shaped.
  • They have soft bodies.
  • They vary in colour from green to brown or orange.

Nymphs

  • Nymphs resemble adults but are smaller.

Eggs

  • A female can lay up to 400 eggs (each less than 0.3mm long) at a time.
  • Newly deposited eggs are lemon-yellow, oval and about twice as long as they are wide.

Plant stage and plant parts affected

Phylloxera nymphs and adults infest grapevine plants during the vegetative growth stages. Depending on the strain of phylloxera, they attack leaves and/or roots, leading to stunting and dieback of the whole plant. Most strains are confined to roots but some attack leaves only. Very few strains are known to attack both roots and leaves.

Plant damage

Phylloxera adults and nymphs feed on grapevine roots. This leads to hook-shaped galls developing on root hairs or rounded swellings forming on older roots. The galls hinder root growth, and reduce water and nutrient absorption by the plant. Galls and swellings are prone to secondary bacterial and fungal infections that lead to rotting of the grapevine roots, yellowing of the leaves and overall loss of grapevine vigour. Susceptible grapevines can die in 3–10 years.

Some strains of phylloxera can cause pea-sized leaf galls on the underside of grape leaves. The leaf galling can cause leaf distortion and leaf fall, which can result in less fruit being produced.

May be confused with

Leaf yellowing and general wilting symptoms can be signs of grape phylloxera but can also be produced by other causes of root damage or water stress (such as root rotting from fungal or bacterial diseases or drought).

Nematodes, like grape phylloxera, can cause galling on grapevine roots. However, nematode galls tend to be spherical in shape.

An expert is required to identify grape phylloxera.

Distribution

Grape phylloxera is native to North America. It spread to Europe and then to many of the grape-growing regions around the world in the late 1800s, where it caused severe production losses. Vineyards had to be replanted with vines grafted onto phylloxera-resistant rootstock.

Grape phylloxera is present in Victoria and New South Wales. It is not known to occur in Queensland.

Hosts

Grapevines (Vitis vinifera) are hosts, and some cultivars are more susceptible than others. Some ornamental and wild Vitis species have also been recorded as hosts, for example Vitis aestivalis (summer grape), Vitis labrusca (fox grape) and Vitis riparia (riverine grape).

Life cycle

  • The life cycle of phylloxera is complex and can occur completely underground or alternate between above-ground and below-ground reproductive cycles. The alternation of above-ground and below-ground life cycles is illustrated in the Murray Valley Winegrowers phylloxera brochure.
  • To date there is no evidence of sexual reproduction in phylloxera in Australia. Only female phylloxera adults have been found and they can reproduce asexually.
  • It only takes 1 phylloxera individual (egg, nymph or adult) to introduce this pest to your property.
  • Each female can lay up to 400 eggs several times in a season, depending on a variety of factors.
  • The eggs hatch into nymphs soon after the plant breaks winter dormancy. These nymphs are known as crawlers and can move short distances (such as plant to plant).
  • Crawlers are most abundant soon after bud break to the end of summer.
  • The crawler stage lasts for 5–8 weeks, depending on a number of factors including the environment.
  • Small numbers of phylloxera can survive over winter underground on vine roots or under bark around the base of the grapevine.
  • In very cold climates phylloxera produce a very robust form of egg to overwinter.
  • By the time symptoms are visible, the insect may have been present for several years, but at a level that has been difficult to detect.

Plants affected

  • Grapes

Impacts

Australian grape production contributes significantly to Australia's economy, jobs and local communities. In 2024–25, Australia's table grape production was valued at $874.9 million and exports were valued at $578.6 million, of which Queensland contributed 8% (Source: Australian horticulture statistics handbook 2024/25). During the same financial year, Australia exported 639 million litres of wine, valued at $2.48 billion. It is estimated that wine grapes contribute $51.3 billion annually to the Australian economy (Source: Wine Australia).

Phylloxera is a serious grapevine pest that has had a significant impact on grape production internationally, wherever susceptible grape cultivars are grown. Most commercial grapevines grown in Australia are highly susceptible to grape phylloxera; therefore, preventing pest spread is critical for the industry.

There are no chemical or biological controls for this pest. Phylloxera control relies on complete removal of infested plants and replanting with resistant rootstocks, which is a costly exercise for affected growers.

The presence of grape phylloxera would have trade implications for fresh fruit and other plant product exporters and propagation nurseries within Australia and internationally.

Backyard growers of fruit and ornamental vines would also be affected.

How it is spread

Grape phylloxera can spread over long distances through the movement of infested:

  • grapevine plant propagation material
  • grape products used in winemaking, such as fruit, unfiltered grape juice, marc and must (from pressing grapes).

It can also be spread in:

  • plant debris
  • soil
  • packing material
  • any equipment that has been in contact with soil or another growing medium that has been in contact with infested grapevines.

Monitoring and action

The best time to look for phylloxera symptoms in Queensland vineyards is when populations are likely to be at their peak during spring and summer (September to March).

Look for weak or stunted vines with premature yellowing, especially those with lots of weeds growing underneath them.

Phylloxera reproduces most easily on healthy root systems. Dead and weakened vines will often have low populations. If you suspect an infestation on weakened vines, also check neighbouring vines for signs of infestation. Remember that phylloxera can be present without the plant showing symptoms.

Carefully dig up a number of roots and inspect the new growth on the fine, feeder roots for galls (small swellings), which result from phylloxera feeding. Root tips infested with phylloxera are often club-shaped or form hooks. Galls may initially be white or yellow, but turn brown later as they mature.

A 10× hand lens or greater will be needed, as the insects are very small.

If you suspect the presence of grape phylloxera, you must report it immediately using 1 of these methods:

Do not attempt to move suspect grapevine material or soil samples.

Prevention

Follow these on-farm prevention measures to help protect your farm from grape phylloxera:

  • Restrict visitors, vehicles and other equipment from vineyard areas, unless appropriate disinfestation procedures have been observed or plant health certification has been provided.
  • Check that any grape plant, machinery, equipment or grape material from interstate is accompanied by appropriate certification. If a plant health certificate is not provided with the item, do not allow it onto your property and report it to Biosecurity Queensland.
  • Ensure there is no soil or vegetation on equipment, machinery or footwear before it enters your vineyards.
  • Place signs at the property's entrance outlining the basic biosecurity requirements to remind visitors and staff of their obligations.
  • Record significant movements of risk items onto your property in a diary or logbook and check your vines annually for the presence of phylloxera.

Use these resources to learn more about how to protect your farm from plant pests and diseases:

Legal requirements

Grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae) is prohibited matter under the Biosecurity Act 2014—it is a biosecurity risk.

Under the Act, everyone in Queensland has a general biosecurity obligation to report biosecurity risks and take action to prevent or minimise them.

You must report suspected grape phylloxera and comply with the movement restrictions that are in place to prevent its introduction into Queensland.

The nationally recognised grape phylloxera exclusion zone (PDF, 469KB) was created to protect Queensland's largest grape production area. To move phylloxera carriers into this zone, you need a biosecurity certificate.

For more information on biosecurity zones and the restrictions that apply to them, see the Queensland biosecurity manual (PDF, 1.8MB).

Further information