Reply to Margaret If the sawflies are about, then it will not be long before your bush is being shredded again. I recommend the upturned umbrella technique. Put it under the branches, give them a bash and deal with the fallen caterpillars in whatever way you see fit.
I think we have the same thing. Two berberis, young plants in a tub. Small up to 1cm larvae, as far as I can see a uniform dark grey, lots of frass, of course lots of leaf loss. Interestingly, and not so far mentioned in this blog, a fine network of what appear to be very untidy spider web like filaments all over the plant. Anyone else seen these?? Maybe this isn't the dreaded sawfly??
Finally a similar but much less serious outbreak is affecting three small Escalonias, also in pots in an oak barrel.
Up to now there are no signs of leaf loss on my berberis. It was trimmed on 6th June and seems okay so far. I'm not yet convinced that we've escaped the attentions of the dreaded sawfly, but immediately after trimming there were half a dozen starlings feasting on something in the hedge!
It's happening, my hedge is being shredded. It's uncanny, there's no sighting of caterpillers but the hedge is being eaten, fast. I realise that this is going to continue ever year. I might go with phil f s' idea and grow a climber through the hedge, any suggestions as to what species? I live in Northamptonshire by the way.
Reply to everyone. Take some heart from the fact that the hedge which started off this blog and comment trail is apparently untouched this year. There is no sign of adults or larvae. ....it's a mystery.
Ihave recently had a whole hedge row of Berberrsis stripped of all leaves. I had no idea until I did some research on the internet and came across a creter called 'Sawfly'. Having trimed the hedge, I found millions of Caterpilla at the base of my compost bin, small grey and very active. No other plants in the garden had been affected. Gathered a bucket full of these together and burnt, small numbers still on the hedge have been spayed with an insecticide.
Having the hedge for more than 10 years, this is the first time that this has happened, I am now told that these bury themselves in the ground and pupate.
This is devastating, will the hedge survive? will I now have the same problem every year?
This morning I have found the complete defoliation of my berberis here in Somerset. Being near the front door it was in all it's glory on Saturday, this is indeed a rapid devestation. I collected some larvae and one adult for identifcation plus photos which has led me here to this site. I too, am going to spray with insecticide.
These unwelcome sawfly caterpillers appeared on several berberis thunbergii plants in my garden last year and seem to be just as active this year. Disliking insecticides, I have resorted to shaking the plant with a sheet underneath (they drop off easily) and then destroying.
Two pairs of chaffinches are devouring the caterpillers as fast as they can. It is too late for my hedge this year but maybe the chaffinch is the natural predator I've been hoping for.
We have found our berberis almost completely stripped within 2 weeks with all of the tell-tale signs mentioned above. Sure enough it is the dreaded sawfly. First year that it has happened for us. We are going to nuke them!
Posts
If the sawflies are about, then it will not be long before your bush is being shredded again. I recommend the upturned umbrella technique. Put it under the branches, give them a bash and deal with the fallen caterpillars in whatever way you see fit.
Finally a similar but much less serious outbreak is affecting three small Escalonias, also in pots in an oak barrel.
Take some heart from the fact that the hedge which started off this blog and comment trail is apparently untouched this year. There is no sign of adults or larvae. ....it's a mystery.
Having the hedge for more than 10 years, this is the first time that this has happened, I am now told that these bury themselves in the ground and pupate.
This is devastating, will the hedge survive? will I now have the same problem every year?
I too, am going to spray with insecticide.
Disliking insecticides, I have resorted to shaking the plant with a sheet underneath (they drop off easily) and then destroying.