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Parasites on roses
rowly71
Posts: 2
These 'caterpillar/larvae' type things have been blighting three of my four rose trees since they started to flourish a few weeks ago. I check them every morning and there's always a new bug curled up inside a leaf, cocooned in a sticky quilt that makes the leaf curl around the bug and then it eats its way out when big and fat! It particularly likes to hide amongst the protective leaves around the flower 
buds. what treatment can I use to stop them? All advice is most welcome. Thank you, Rachel.
0
Posts
You could just pick off the leaves involved Rachel. Try to avoid chemical control as small birds such as blue tits are looking for just such tasty morsels to feed their chicks.
I agree , pick off the infected leaves. Any spray will do more harm than good. Hang bird feeders near your plants to encourage birds to that area.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thank you both, I have resisted using any treatments as i had a bout of black spot last year after using a simple soapy solution to deal with green fly. I have been picking off the leaves and will continue to do so. Lets hope the little critters soon disappear!