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What’s killing my roses #874059

Asked June 21, 2024, 11:46 AM EDT

Leaves look eaten and tunneled.

Douglas County Colorado

Expert Response

Hi Rosa,

I'm sorry to hear about your roses!

From what I can see in the photo, I think you have rose sawflies.  These relatives of bees and wasps cause the "window-pane" damage that I can see on many of the leaves in the photo.  As larvae, they look kind of like slimy green caterpillars, so also get called rose-slugs (though they aren't closely related to slugs at all).  

If you find them on the leaves, spraying the plants with a forceful jet of water may dislodge many larvae, which often will then fail to re-find the plant. Larvae may also be handpicked or dislodged by shaking plants over a container for collection and disposal.

If these methods are inadequate, pesticide options, including pyrethrins, can provide adequate control but may be illegal to apply if the roses are flowering because the danger to pollinators.  Read the label for any product you are considering for application instructions and restrictions.

The leaves furthest to the right in the photo have damage that could be the work of very young sawflies, but could also be something else--it almost looks like damage from soap or oil, or possibly from different types of insects.  Did all of the damage occur at once, and when did you first notice it?

I hope this is helpful,

Cordially,

John

An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 21, 2024, 2:04 PM EDT
John,
We just noticed it this morning and not all of the roses are infected. We will immediately spray them with water. 

During the winter we surrounded the roses with bricks to protect the crown, and a new puppy instead of leaves or straw.  

We truly appreciate your help. 


Rosa Montemayor. 
Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 21, 2024, at 12:05, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:


The Question Asker Replied June 21, 2024, 4:58 PM EDT

Good luck!  Let us know if things don't improve soon on the new growth.


An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 21, 2024, 6:26 PM EDT

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