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Strawberry sawfly larvae

Can anyone suggest an organic control for strawberry sawfly larvae other than squishing them or picking them off? Everything I can find out about them either says they're not very common (well they are in my garden!) and that they won't kill plants. However, they killed three of my plants last year by reducing all the leaves to threads. The plants just got too weak after that.

I keep trying to squish them but they start off so tiny that it's really hard to see them. I was hoping the birds might eat them, but I need to put netting up soon to protect the fruit. Are there any insect predators that might eat them that I could attract with companion planting?

Posts

  • Sazz101Sazz101 Posts: 248
    @Polaris I don’t have an answer for you but following with interest. I have the same issue with my geum. The younger plants are destroyed. Neem oil doesn’t work. 
  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    Hi guys,

    I don't have sawfly issues with strawberries or geums, but I do get them on gooseberries and aruncus.
    I'm trying some of the ideas in this article....

    https://havegarden.com/sawfly-on-gooseberries/

    I'm also using the blast setting on my hose to knock any small caterpillars off the gooseberries. Has worked well so far.

    Good luck,
    Bee x
    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • Sazz101Sazz101 Posts: 248
    Thank you @Bee witched. I will give the rhubarb idea a go! 
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