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Systemic insecticide.

Joy*Joy* Posts: 571
in Problem solving
Hello everyone. Despite my dislike of chemicals, can anyone recommend a good systemic insecticide please?
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Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    what's the pest and what's the plant? 
    Devon.
  • Joy*Joy* Posts: 571
    Hi Hostafan. I'm plagued by sawfly on roses, fuchsias, pelargoniums and shrubs. I spend a lot of time unrolling leaves to remove the caterpillars. I've not had the problem previously and suspect that they were brought in with the new plants when the garden was planted up. Everything is ornamental so there isn't a problem about wanting to eat anything. Thank you for your help.
  • Mike AllenMike Allen Posts: 208
    Sorry to say.  A systemic insecticide will not solve your problem.  As simple as it may seem.  A daily sraying of a basic insecticidal will at times prove beneficial.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    don't unroll the leaves, just squish them, the catepillar will not longer be a problem and the leaves will unroll. 
    Try spraying with a solution of washing up liquid. 
    I've not used insecticide in over 30 years and have never felt the need to since then.
    Please try other solutions. Let predators do the work for you. 
    Devon.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    The RHS suggests some insecticides for Sawfly.
    The only systemic insecticide they suggest is Bug Clear Ultra which contains the systemic neonicotinoid insecticide acetamiprid which is linked to killing bees. So if you do choose to use it please do so after dusk.
    More info here-
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=196

    Of course organic control is always best - when feasible


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    The sad thing about the neonicotinoids is that even if you avoid spraying the bees by using them in the evening, the plant absorbs the poison ... it is then in the pollen which the bees take back to the hive to feed the next generation 😭 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Joy*Joy* Posts: 571
    Thank you all. I had them last year and hoped that my washing up liquid spraying would be sufficient but they are here again and it is worse than before, hence my desperation. The aphids are now taken care of by the sparrows which is great but the sawflies are making a real mess. The bee population in my front garden is enormous as I have a lot of lavender so poison isn't the best plan. Rest assured that I'm not going down that avenue. I'll have to think laterally and look at the way the beggars overwinter. As I'm not aware of ever having them before it's a steep learning curve but I will have to try to be rid of them as my roses in particular are being ruined - nearly every flower has been deformed by them.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited August 2020
    Thank you and good luck
    🌹 🐝 🐝 🐝 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Some years I get them on my roses too, other years I don't, but I never spray and my roses look ok.
    I never use systemic insecticides and only resort to glyphosphate for docks and the like.
    Our valuable and declining insect populations have enough problems these days.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    IMO there is an enormous difference between using glyphosphate for weeds and neonicotinoids for killing insects.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
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