I had advice from no less than RHS head entomologist last year after my berberis was left a netcurtain thanks to the sawfly. He said treat with pyrethrin based insecticide but not during flowering - and do it regularly. He also mentioned that at the end of the season the pupae do overwinter in the soil. Therefore it might be a good idea to get on top of the population before autumn.
I was hoping last winter may have doofered the sawfly, and was optimistic come 2 weeks ago when there was no signs of munching. However, a weekend away and now half the bush is destroyed. I have sprayed twice this week with soapy water. I have just been out for a foray and collected at least 30 in soapy water in a cup. I'm hoping if I keep this up for a few weeks I may get on top of the population.
If its the same next year I think I will have to resort to replacement - my garden is to small to have a non-performer.
The leaves are returning to my devastated hedge! This didnt happen last year so I am thanking the chaffinches. I'm wondering if I treat the soil under the hedge I can deter the caterpillars that are pupating over winter from emerging as sawflies.
For the past two years our berberis has been ruined by the sawfly with every leaf eaten. This year we spotted them early after only a few leaves had been damaged. A thorough shake of the leaves casuses thenm to fall to the ground. The bush was then saryed very thoughly with soapy water and so far this year we have had no further trouble. We have plenty of birds in the garden but they really don't seem very interested in helping out.
Thanks for all the continued comments. The sawfly is obviously still expanding its range in this country, but at the same time once defoliated bushes are recovering and appear untouched. The sawfly is unlikely to have disappeared from these sites, more likely it has suffered bad weather or predators or parasites or diseases at some key point in its life cycle. It is this which will hopefully keep it in check now that it is thoroughly established here.
I have a 10 year old upright berberis in my garden and was astonished to see strange looking black flies buzzing around it. A few weeks ago I noticed the leaves being eaten by small greyish grubs, so dusted the plant with derris dust. The grubs are now gone and the berberis is starting to grow more leaves.
Oh we have a rather large gathering of these little sods, feasting quite greedily! They way they have ravaged my poor little berberis bushes I am sure they must be related to the locust!!!!
My 10 foot berberis has been eaten completely in the past 8 days :-( - pesky caterpillars!! they were small green ones, approx 1.5cm in length.I've had no option but to cut it down and dig it out - I really dont want the blighters back - now to look for a large plant to fill the gap
The large berberis in my garden in Wiltshire has been attacked 3 years running by these caterpillars. This year they came early in the summer. The leaves grew back, but a few days ago I was devasted to see that it had been stripped again! If they've gone back in the earth, what form do they take at that stage in their lifecycle? I'm prepared to try digging them out to get my revenge.
Sawfly Sawflies are the smash and grabbers of the insect world. Few pests make such an impact, so rapidly, on your plants. Go away for a weekend and you may return to find your berberis, gooseberry bush or your aquilegias stripped of all their leaves. Each species of sawfly affects a specific plant, so there is no danger of sawflies from your gooseberry eating your Solomon’s seal (polygonatum). There may be just one or several generations each year and the adult flies hatch, mate and lay eggs on the host plants. They rapidly devour the foliage until large enough to crawl into the soil, pupate and emerge as adults.
I'm interested in berberis to deter humans climbing over my fence. Do the thorns remain once the catapillars have been? And where can I buy berberies plants - I live in South East London.
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I was hoping last winter may have doofered the sawfly, and was optimistic come 2 weeks ago when there was no signs of munching. However, a weekend away and now half the bush is destroyed. I have sprayed twice this week with soapy water. I have just been out for a foray and collected at least 30 in soapy water in a cup.
I'm hoping if I keep this up for a few weeks I may get on top of the population.
If its the same next year I think I will have to resort to replacement - my garden is to small to have a non-performer.
Thanks for all the continued comments. The sawfly is obviously still expanding its range in this country, but at the same time once defoliated bushes are recovering and appear untouched. The sawfly is unlikely to have disappeared from these sites, more likely it has suffered bad weather or predators or parasites or diseases at some key point in its life cycle. It is this which will hopefully keep it in check now that it is thoroughly established here.
Sawfly
Sawflies are the smash and grabbers of the insect world. Few pests make such an impact, so rapidly, on your plants. Go away for a weekend and you may return to find your berberis, gooseberry bush or your aquilegias stripped of all their leaves. Each species of sawfly affects a specific plant, so there is no danger of sawflies from your gooseberry eating your Solomon’s seal (polygonatum).
There may be just one or several generations each year and the adult flies hatch, mate and lay eggs on the host plants. They rapidly devour the foliage until large enough to crawl into the soil, pupate and emerge as adults.