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Berberis sawfly

ERICS MUMERICS MUM Posts: 627
in Problem solving

I noticed yesterday that my lovely red spiny Berberis is missing most of its leaves or they have shrivelled  to nothing.  Except the top branches which look fine but I guess it's just a matter of time...

Google tells me it's sawfly so I need to check for them and their caterpillars.  Instead of spraying I'm thinking I'll prune it back hard.  My questions are - (1) will the plant re-grow next year if I hard prune it now and (2) will the sawfly over-winter, and/or return next year (in which case I will spray as soon as the leaves appear).

thanks x

Posts

  • Hortum-cretaeHortum-cretae Posts: 979

    Seen quite a bit of that this year, especially on the red leafed varieties.  Plant will be fine, even if you don't trim it. I wouldn't spray it, no need. It'll be a fresh brood of sawfly next year from new visitors, so just keep an eye on it late August onwards. The caterpillars are tiny, greenish with darker heads and they feed on the leaf edges, standing up in 'defensive' pose when disturbed. 

    H-C

  • ERICS MUMERICS MUM Posts: 627
    Hortum-cretae says:

    Seen quite a bit of that this year, especially on the red leafed varieties.  Plant will be fine, even if you don't trim it. I wouldn't spray it, no need. It'll be a fresh brood of sawfly next year from new visitors, so just keep an eye on it late August onwards. The caterpillars are tiny, greenish with darker heads and they feed on the leaf edges, standing up in 'defensive' pose when disturbed. 

    H-C

    See original post

    Well I hacked it back last night and saw some caterpillars  as you describe. They were well camouflaged. I know what to look out for next year now thanks - little blighters !

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