i have ahd them to this year.. loads of them.. i had to look up what they were.. leaves are stripped to just stalks.. i just removed the ones i could see and spread on the path.. didnt stay there for long i can tell ya.
Flippin'g things are back - we haven't been bothered with them for a couple of years
Pam LL x
I posted this a few days ago - I don't like using insecticide but I have and the caterpillars have gone. They had munched their way through half a shrub before I noticed
I'm adding my comments to those before me because I've just discovered I'm a victim of the dreaded Berberis sawfly. I thought my two "pillar" shrubs were ailing last year because of the wet summer in 2012 but now I realise it was this pest. It was only after it happened again this year after a good spring show of leaves that I thought I would google the problem and got some tips on what was wrong. Today is the day all the theory was confirmed. I noticed a swarm of flies and captured a couple in a jar and close inspection shows they are definitely adult berberis sawflys. I live in Stroud, in Gloucestershire and will report it to the RHS for their survey.
The berberis hedge (which actually belongs to my neighbours) at the front of our property has been ravaged and having done internet research, have concluded it's the sawfly (I noticed a swarm of flies in July come up from under the berberis hedge when my neighbours were away and I was watering their front garden because of the very hot weather - at the time, I just assumed something had died under the hedge and the flies were feeding on it). However, the hedge of about 6 bushes has been devasted in the past two weeks. Looked up the RHS website and looked on the bushes and saw a larva and some flies. My neighbour is going to get the sprays recommended on the RHS website. We are in Liverpool and the hedge is probably 15-20 years old and this is the first time we have seen this happen.
I live in March North Cambs. One bush was attacked early summer and a second bush devastated this last two days. On checking the caterpillars are there to be seen. Will try all methods recommended as it seems these are hard to eradicate. They seem to be spreading all over the country.
My verbascums were attacked by black caterpillars last year and the shrubs are not recovering
Posts
My Berberis has grey fungus type blotches on all the branches. Leaves are starting to look sad. Any ideas how to cure please
i have ahd them to this year.. loads of them.. i had to look up what they were.. leaves are stripped to just stalks.. i just removed the ones i could see and spread on the path.. didnt stay there for long i can tell ya.
ohmy Pam.. not good.. those look like the ones i had on my verbascum this year.... it is a good year for the bad pests i say.
I live in Notting Hill and for the first time I have got the dreaded sawfly. have just given them the umbrella treatment. Cross my fingers
I'm adding my comments to those before me because I've just discovered I'm a victim of the dreaded Berberis sawfly. I thought my two "pillar" shrubs were ailing last year because of the wet summer in 2012 but now I realise it was this pest. It was only after it happened again this year after a good spring show of leaves that I thought I would google the problem and got some tips on what was wrong. Today is the day all the theory was confirmed. I noticed a swarm of flies and captured a couple in a jar and close inspection shows they are definitely adult berberis sawflys. I live in Stroud, in Gloucestershire and will report it to the RHS for their survey.
The berberis hedge (which actually belongs to my neighbours) at the front of our property has been ravaged and having done internet research, have concluded it's the sawfly (I noticed a swarm of flies in July come up from under the berberis hedge when my neighbours were away and I was watering their front garden because of the very hot weather - at the time, I just assumed something had died under the hedge and the flies were feeding on it). However, the hedge of about 6 bushes has been devasted in the past two weeks. Looked up the RHS website and looked on the bushes and saw a larva and some flies. My neighbour is going to get the sprays recommended on the RHS website. We are in Liverpool and the hedge is probably 15-20 years old and this is the first time we have seen this happen.
I live in March North Cambs. One bush was attacked early summer and a second bush devastated this last two days. On checking the caterpillars are there to be seen. Will try all methods recommended as it seems these are hard to eradicate. They seem to be spreading all over the country.
My verbascums were attacked by black caterpillars last year and the shrubs are not recovering
PL
One or more of mine gets shredded every year. They come back next year though
In the sticks near Peterborough