Identifying and Eliminating Sawfly Larvae on Roses
Sawfly larvae resemble a caterpillar but are actually the larvae of the sawfly, a wasp-like flying insect.
I always say that roses are like the chickens of the plant world: everything wants to prey on them. In my garden, there are three recurring pests that I have waged war on, and one of them is the sawfly larvae, or commonly known as “rose slugs.” Appearing sometime in May, just as the roses are starting to look amazing, the sawfly larvae chews it’s way through buds and tender leaves, and left unchecked can completely skeletonize it in just a matter of days. Sawfly larvae are so tiny that they you will see the damage they create before you actually see the culprit.
I’ve found that early identification is the best way to manage this pest. In mid to late spring, check your rose leaves and buds for tiny holes indicating that the larvae are present. Flip the leaves over where you are sure to find at least one chomping larvae, and gently pull back the calyces (the leaves protecting the bud) to find the larvae nestled within making breakfast from your rose petals. And then squish them! Spending just a few minutes a day on each rose bush checking and squishing is an effective and organic method of control.
Sawfly larvae love the tender new leaves of a rose. If you look closely you can see some larvae still present on some of the leaves. This picture was taken pre-squish.
Severe infestations can be managed with chemical controls (like Sevin), but I don’t recommend them. One, because I shy away from them myself and so how could I recommend something I don’t use? And two, because certain pesticides will also eliminate beneficial insects (and birds) which, trust me, you want in your garden. I’ve recently begun using a very watered down Neem Oil (derived from the seeds of neem trees) on my roses to help control the fungal disease, black-spot. Neem oil is also effective against pests over time, but, because it is an horticulture oil, can suffocate beneficial insects as well. It is best applied in early morning so the leaves have time to dry before the beneficial insects begin working, and like anything should be used with caution and restraint. In other words, just because something says it’s organic doesn’t mean it’s safe in all aspects. For more information on Neem, click here. EDIT: This summer I’ve stopped spraying my roses at all. Yup, not one bit–not even the organic horticultural oils to control black spot because I’m editing out roses that need coddling whatsoever. And as far as controlling sawfly larvae I still feel the best method is just to squish the ones you find and let the birds take care of the rest.
Sawfly larvae damage on a rose bud. Gently teasing back the calyces will reveal the larvae and allow you to give them a good squishing.
The next rule of thumb is true for any pest/disease management of roses: Keep the area around each plant clean and free of debris such as dropped leaves (especially if they’re dropped because of a fungal disease) and provide good air circulation around each plant. Additionally, remove any damaged/diseased canes and leaves and dispose of them (not in your compost pile!) Roses will also manage better if they are not grouped together but planted among other perennials, annuals, herbs, etc which supply beneficial insects and birds with cover and food. And last but not least, a stressed rose is more susceptible to disease and infestations, so keep them healthy and happy to give them the strength they need to fend off the baddies.
A ladybug larvae hard at work on a Dr Huey rosebud. Ladybug larvae, like adult ladybugs, eat damaging, soft bodied insects like aphids and sawfly larvae.
Early detection, handpicking and destroying the larvae, and encouraging beneficial insects are 3 great ways to protect your roses from sawfly larvae. If you have insects such as green lacewings and ladybugs already present in your garden consider yourself lucky and don’t interfere with their work. Praying mantis are also great for pest control, but keep in mind they will eat anything, including each other, beneficial bugs, and even, I’ve heard, hummingbirds. (Yikes!) Encourage birds, yes chickens included, into your garden as they will also eat nasty pests. I’m going to write a post later on as to how to encourage songbirds into your garden, but the number one thing I’ve found is to provide a year-round fresh water supply. More on that later.
Abraham Darby
So there you have it! Spending a little extra time with your roses each day will help prevent this nasty pest and keep your plants healthy, happy, and looking their best!
EDIT: 7/10/11 In our garden, the roses that I pruned back weeks ago to encourage a second flush of blooms are covered in new growth, and, you guessed it, sawfly larvae. This is round 2, but I’m ready. Don’t forget to periodically check your roses, paying special attention to the tender new leaves and buds. 🙂
Gosh, how very informative!!! And the pictures are awesome! I never knew that was a ladybug larvae. I’ve seen those before and couldn’t help but wonder what they were. Good to know! I don’t have roses anymore. They got destroyed a few years ago when they decided to extend our street and took out the cul-de-sac we were on. There used to be 7 bushes. Don’t know what they were since they were planted before we bought our house. But they were so pretty. They plowed them under and took out half our yard. 7 rose bushes, two peonies, lavender, cranesbill, sedum, sweet william, oxalis, crocus, tulips, yarrow, phlox, gaura, and so many more. They took out my whole entire perennial bed paved it over. That’s when I gave up gardening. After that, the fire ants moved in and I haven’t gardened since.
Oh my gosh Ginger! That’s terrible! I would be so heartbroken. It amazes me when I hear stories like this that people can be so heartless. (I, too, had a beloved garden destroyed by someone who decided to dig a well right in the middle of it.) If ever decide to start one up again, let me know…I’d love to help in any way I can.
I would have moved those roses and attacked anyone who tried to stop me but that’s just me
Wow .. the information you supply about plants is amazing!
Haha, thanks for getting through it…it was kind of a gross one! 😉
You have such a cool mom that she comes and comments on your blog. Moms are the best!
They are!
Thank you so much for posting this. I have the same problem on my roses and could not find the problem source.
I’m so glad it helped!
Hello!
Thanks alot for your article. After trawling through loads of gardening forums and websites for the answer to sawfly bugs, this has been the most useful by far! My poor rose plant was infested by rose slugs, and after using chemical pesticide, which didn’t work, I came to the same conclusion as you. Squishing! And in my case picking off with a plastic fork 😉 A friend recommended spraying with garlic water as well. What are your thoughts on that? Also, I’ll be trying out watered down neem oil. Cheers for the advice!
Hi Anna! So happy this helped you! 🙂
I’ve never used garlic water before–sounds interesting, I might have to try that sometime. As for watered-down Neem oil, I don’t even use that anymore. No spraying at all, actually. With regard to the sawfly larvae the squishing just works best and also keeping a healthy garden that invites birds because my little sparrow population that now nest in our garden have been the biggest help of all!
Arregggghhhh!!! I am so over sawfly damage! Where I live north of Toronto In zone 4, our summers are so short and am so sick of seeing the David Austn Roses I wait all winter for, dessimaed every single year !!! I can’t find the site I read in the spring recommending neem/garlic oil sprayed on the soilr as well .to prevent larva recurrences…. Obviously picking larva off the leaves is easier than spraying them but is there ANYthing at all for prevention that renders leaves distasteful other than dawn/neem?? I can’t find a single thing on good prevention that actually works other than the obvious good health in general to insure a strong plant. Help!!!
I totally understand the frustration! We’ve all been there.
Honestly, I’ll tell you the biggest thing that helped control our sawfly population (so much so that I barely noticed them at the end) were our songbird populations. Chickadees, sparrows, wrens and the like could be seen fluttering around the roses picking off the insects. So, get your bird populations up (lots of articles on the web on how to do this…don’t forget a birdbath) and I think you’ll see a difference. Additionally, we added praying mantis to our garden which helped control the insect population, including Japanese beetles. Wheel Bugs are good for that, too. We didn’t add those–they just showed up one day. I’ve heard lots of gardeners talk about the success they’ve had with adding beneficial nematodes to their soil. I never did get around to that in this garden but I kept meaning to! I guess what I’m saying is, the beneficials will catch up if you let them. 🙂
I am always devastated when I find then green larvae as tiny as two mm up to 3/4 inch! I handpick, as you do, and find the larger ones really know how to hang on. It is best, I find, to rid area(S) of all webs, sticky stuff and black specks by hand. Not at all pleasant. Then clip off damaged area if need be and pray for a rich new harvest. Sometimes I use tepid soap water ( Palmolive dishwashing detergent) and leave suds on entire bush. There will be a richer harvest of blooms later on. They cannot get them all! So be of good cheer and whistle while you work. Or sing. It helps your inner self. 😊
Do Ladybug larvae eat holes in the leaves of plants? I see quite a few on my joe nye weed, thought they wee the culprits who were eating holes in the leaves. So happy you shared a photo of them. Marge
Hi Marge, I’d be surprised if the damage is caused by ladybugs as they largely feed on other insects. It sounds like you have another larvae feeding on the leaves of your Joe Pye. Encouraging songbirds to live in your garden (a birdbath will always draw them in) will help control insects naturally. Thank you so much for your visit! 🙂
I’m late to the party here, but one thing (entirely scientifically unproven) that I’ve found is that if I plant lavender right next to a rose, the sawflies avoid it. I’ve never had an infestation on a rose with a lavender companion, but as soon as I took the lavender out (it was old and leggy) the flies moved in. Coincidence? Possibly, but in my garden right now, the only rose not crawling with sawflies is the one with the lavender growing next to it.
Great tip, Joanna! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Thank you, I’m on the hunt for those nasties to squish.