The pest was inadvertently introduced to France from North America in 1860. It was introduced into California in the 1850's from the eastern U.S. Phylloxera were identified in the Penticton area of British Columbia in 1961 and in eight sites in Washington State, one of which was a V. vinifera vineyard, in 1988. Phylloxera was also discovered in Oregon about 20 years ago. Phylloxera are now found in every major grape producing region in Oregon.
Mature adults become brown or purplish-brown.
Each female can lay as many as 400 eggs. Newly deposited eggs are lemon yellow, oval, and about twice as long as they are wide. The rate of development of this pest depends on the grape root and vine phenology as well as numerous environmental factors including soil and air temperature and humidity. The mature forms, which are females only, deposit eggs by asexual reproduction. In Oregon vineyards, the first eggs have been detected in June.