Have you tried the Bayer Insect killer for roses, works great. If you have a big infestation, try Sevin. It's toxic, but if you spray in the afternoon you limit the bee exposure. I've found that the only thing that works is to spray them directly, nothing will prevent them.

I have some JBs, but as I don't have many blooms right now, I've just been spot spraying.

I would try Pikes for Neem oil

My approach with JB's is not to look at my plants too closely. I've pretty much decided that I just have to endure their onslaught every year and turn my head. I'm not going to run around my yard like my neighbor in his overalls with his shirt off nuking all of his plants (and himself) with God knows what for a couple of days of relief from these evil green monsters. They do go away, thankfully, in a few weeks!

Sevin will kill them, and anything containing imidacloprid will kill them. Neem oil will not. If you want to minimize damage to good bugs, bees, etc., spot spray like Buford is doing.

Even if you eliminate the ones you see, you will have more flying in from your neighbors.

You can cover your roses with a lightweight row cover material, or just cut all rosebuds before they get munched on and bring them in the house to enjoy.

sigh. my neighbor was laughing hysterically at me...i was playing tee-ball with a rosebush, a plastic coke bottle and a bunch of japanese beetles... just to work out some frustration.

batter up!

i can tolerate most critters. but most critters don't completely remove every flower petal in my yard for nearly two months. although they don't actually seem to be as bad this year.

what i really hate about these guys is they love my crepe myrtle and my elderberries, which are too tall for me to get them out of.

Try planting a huge patch of blackberries. They seem to love them.

I'm with bamadave. I dont' do a darned thing. They'll be gone soon!

GGG

Gardens Alive has an organic product called Surround that's supposed to deter JBs. I think it's a clay based product. You spray the stuff on, and it leaves a white coating (looks kinda like powdery mildew, actually), and supposedly the insects don't want to chew through the clay. You do have to reapply after a rainfall, tho. Not that that's been much of an issue lately.
Pam