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what are they?

B3B3 Posts: 27,480
in Talkback
Every spring I get some little greenish grey skinny little grubby things about 1cm long. There's usually a bunch of them together and they are very active. They appear on my glaucous rose and will eat a leaf down to the veins. They're not a problem as I cut the twig off and chuck it in the back of th border. I am just curious to know what they are.
In London. Keen but lazy.

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,139

    Rose sawfly caterpillars.

    They've stripped some leaves on my Rosa glauca and Rosa Bonica.  I just prune the skeletons off.


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





  • B3B3 Posts: 27,480
    Thanks dove. I always keep an eye out for them so they do little damage on a large plant
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • SupernoodleSupernoodle Posts: 954

    Put the sawflies in the bin, B3 - don't put them in the back of your border.  

    I too get them.  I'm squeamish so don't like to handle them so similarly cut the leaf /twig off.  I hold a small tub underneath to catch them as often they drop when disturbed.  

    I think the new eggs get dug into the stems and you can have a look for them over winter?  I'll have a look year and hopefully they'll be high enough up the branches to prune out.

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,480
    Threw them away from host plant as l didn't know what they were . I'm an aphid squisher but I am squeamish about maggoty grubby things. Will bin them next time they visit.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
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