Rose slugs

Rose slugs

Very interesting mexicanhat, I have this happening also and I will have more because I saw LOTS of sawfiles flying around my roses lately! Insecticide soap again!

Thanks for the replies. I remember seeing this last spring as well, then it abruptly stopped. I must have the variety that only produces a single generation per season. At least I hope so, I can handle it if it doesn't get any worse.

Mike

Ewwwww. thanks Mexicanhat. Now I've gotten MY question answered.

You either have JB or Rose slug. Generally rose slugs leaves holes but it can be viral appearing also. I read the article by Mexicanhat and i agree. I am a NEEM oil pusher but only because after years of trying everything it does it all for me. I end up with drop dead beautiful roses with beautiful foliage and lots of bees and lady bugs and lots blooms. i use the all natural organic type called Dyna-grow. The recipe on the back is good but the one i use is 32oz. of water with two teaspoons of Neem and one teaspoon of Ivory soap. It is so simple. I spray everyday and I do so around 4pm. Once a week or so I spray with Rose Defense. It is organic also and has a little bit of Neem in it. Make sure you have beneficial nematodes in the soil to kill any larvae.
Happy growing,
Rosa

In my experience even the original neem doesn't do much for JBs, if you have plenty of them.
Just wait and in 6-10 weeks (depends on the pressure in your area) they will be gone. Roses will grow new leaves in no time. I live in the area with high JB infestation and I tried everything available. Nothing really works. You can try to pick them up manualy, but again if you have too many, it is useless. You can spend hours doing this and by the time you finish your last bush, you can start again with the first one.

Olga

Sawfly damage always slows down when the predatory wasps appear. I saw my first wasps yesterday, hovering over and under leaves, looking for the green sawflies. If you can just hold off on the sprays and soaps, you'll find Nature will take care of the sawfly larva for you.

Dr. Andre, your post makes me think about how the serene facade of the garden is a life and death battleground at another level.

Predatory wasp air battalions are inbound.

Roger that.

Enemy spotted, green sawflies in view.

Prepare to attack.

I seek to make my garden less serene. I have waited YEARS for the biological rabbit control to arrive, but no predators are showing up. Meanwhile the garden rat population (aka 'bunnies') continues to climb. I no longer have a 'Marie Pavie.'

I have pellet gun fantasies. Prepare to attack!

Ahh, but the biological rabbit control really does exist. They are a bit bigger than wasps, and oddly enough, frighten my almost 20 pound cats into trying to become small. They also deal with bunnies and squirrels. I've learned to start looking for the hawks when everything goes quiet. There is me and the insects - absolutely everything else has disappeared. The bird and the squirrels go into hiding.

Now I have serious qualms about the biological control for deer. I know they are out there. Something took out a turkey at Vanderbilt last week, and that wouldn't be something small. Coyotes are a possibility, and there are rumors of bobcats. The bears are more interested in dumpsters than natural food.

The idea of a less serene garden has it's appeal, doesn't it, Dr. Andre? I am raising a clutch of turkey warriors to attack the invading grasshopper hoard. Make war in the garden, and eat eggs.

Vulturine Guineas are my fantasy cleanup squad, to go with that pellet gun.

{{gwi:299284}}

MadGallica, I have qualms about other top-tier predatory species lurking under the rosebushes, too.