phylloxera

American  

[fil-uhk-seer-uh, fi-lok-ser-uh] / ˌfɪl əkˈsɪər ə, fɪˈlɒk sər ə /

noun

plural

phylloxerae, phylloxeras

1. any of several plant lice of the genus Phylloxera, especially P. vitifoliae grape phylloxera, which attacks the leaves and roots of grapevines.

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phylloxera British  

/ ˌfɪlɒkˈsɪərə, fɪˈlɒksərə /

noun

1. any homopterous insect of the genus Phylloxera, such as P. vitifolia (or Viteus vitifolii ) ( vine phylloxera ), typically feeding on plant juices, esp of vines: family Phylloxeridae

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Etymology

Origin of phylloxera

1865–70; < New Latin (1834) < Greek phyllo- phyllo- + xērá, feminine of xērós dry; so named in reference to the dessication of leaves caused by some species

Example Sentences

Graciano was widely planted in Spain in the late 19th century, but after phylloxera devastated the vineyards, growers favored other grapes.

From Washington Post • Jan. 19, 2023

Virtually all of our vines are planted on their own roots, while all of California is grafted onto rootstock that is resistant to a terrible pest called phylloxera.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 3, 2022

But first, they had to survive phylloxera — a kind of black plague for wine grapes, probably carried west from resistant East Coast vines.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 1, 2022

The first hybrid grapes were planted in the 19th century, when a small pest called phylloxera decimated the European wine industry.

From Salon • Oct. 30, 2022

People had begun leaving in 1913, when the phylloxera blight ruined the currants.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides