OK ... I just looked it up and I gather there are "organic" pesticides that will work on the larvae. So I will look into that.

Or, I'll just let the birds get at the larvae ... that is also recommended!

Hearing you voice Option 2 is remarkably refreshing! Thank you.

This plant has been so hardy! It didn't like where I planted it before (not sunny enough, I guess), and I moved it to its present site, where it didn't look too good at first, and it has been flourishing in this spot. Never had any problems like this before!

They clean a plant in days. And apparently they will lay eggs at the base littler of s plant. So getting rid of them before the adult stage is good. I have 4 clusters of this plant in my gardens and only one got the sawflies. The rest are fine.

I have Columbine Sawflies. I've never seen one, but my Columbines are all just sticks. But, I'm told they will come back anyway. Do sawflies have multiple generations each year, or will they finish up in time for plants to recover enough to get ready for winter? Anyone know?

Martha

why apply anything.. you got your answer in the first answer .. cut them down and remove the ugly part .. job done ... larvae probably gone with it ...

it how gardens deal with the uglies ...

but dont get me wrong.. knowledge is power ... so finding out why is good ...

ken

I have some sawfly on my columbine as well. I took an old pot tray and tried to knock as many off as possible. There were tons of little guys. The plants have started to lead back out already

ken, I did cut them down and that's when I saw all the larvae wriggling around in the mulch and climbing up on what was left of the stems. Just wanted to know whether I needed to get rid of them so they wouldn't migrate to the knockout roses that are close by. Looks like the birds took care of them, because I didn't see any left this morning. Except one dead one.

many ..... many bugs.. are highly specific to a certain plant ... and that is why in this case .. the population exploded.. and did the damage ... on this one type plant ...

it took me a lot of years.. to understand.. that doesnt mean i have to spray everything for 2 miles around.. for that given threat ...

and never forget.. this years plague.. probably wont be back for 10 years ... so dont go all hairy on worrying about it next year ..

but if they do come back next year.. just get rid of the plant.. and find something more interesting... that wont have this bug problem ...

too many peeps rather eradicate a bug.. than just get rid of a 5 dollar plant... spending 20 bucks on some cure... whats that all about.. lol ... just get rid of the problem.. the plant.. not the bug ...

ken