phylloxera

noun

phyl·​lox·​e·​ra ˌfi-ˌläk-ˈsir-ə  fə-ˈläk-sə-rə 

: any of several plant lice (family Phylloxeridae)

especially : one (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae synonym Viteus vitifoliae) originally of North America but introduced into Europe and elsewhere that produces galls on the leaves and roots of grape vines and is a serious pest especially of vinifera grapes in wine-producing regions

Examples of phylloxera in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After the phylloxera outbreak destroyed vineyards in France in the late 19th century, rye whiskey became the spirit of choice for the eponymous Sazerac cocktail. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 19 Jan. 2025

Unfortunately, the boom in Cognac sales was cut short by the advent of the phylloxera epidemic that decimated Cognac’s vineyards between 1870 and 1895. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025

The higher percentage of sand helped stop phylloxera, a pest which wiped out many of the oldest root stocks in Europe and abroad in the 20th century, from spreading. —Alissa Fitzgerald, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

While some original vines remained, the practice helped beat back phylloxera, allowing the continent’s wine economy to recover. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 15 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from phyll- + Greek xēros dry

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above