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EpsomHorse t1_j0ejno8 wrote

Reply to comment by italageordie in TIL Europe's wine owes its existence to the grafting of vines to American grape root stock that weren't vulnerable to a species of aphid that was destined to wipe the industry out. by salton

Fascinating. But explain this to me - if Europe's grape vines have been being grafted onto American rootstock that is immune to this pest for a century or so, why has the pest not died out? Where is it hiding and biding its time?

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Hairydone t1_j0fqo4h wrote

The American vines can tolerate the pest. The pest can still exist and survive, it simply won’t kill the vine.

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italageordie t1_j0fxbdl wrote

You do see the eggs on the leaves of the American vines when you're trimming them at the beginning of summer. We are always told to tell the boss, but I'm not sure what he does about it.

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