rose slugs on Rose
Quick answer
If your Rose has rose slugs, the most likely cause is: Rose slugs are the larvae of sawflies. They look like tiny green caterpillars and feed on the underside of rose leaves in spring, eating the green tissue and leaving only the transparent veins (skeletonization).
Start here:
- 1. Inspect the undersides of leaves at the first sign of transparent spots
- 2. Hand-pick or wipe off minor infestations
Why Rose gets rose slugs
Rosa spp.
Rose slugs are the larvae of sawflies. They look like tiny green caterpillars and feed on the underside of rose leaves in spring, eating the green tissue and leaving only the transparent veins (skeletonization).
How to reverse rose slugs on Rose
- 1
Inspect the undersides of leaves at the first sign of transparent spots
- 2
Hand-pick or wipe off minor infestations
- 3
Spray undersides of leaves with insecticidal soap, neem oil, or spinosad
- 4
Note: Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) does not work on sawfly larvae because they are not true caterpillars
Keep rose slugs off this Rose
Regular inspection in mid-to-late spring. Horticultural oil applied during the dormant season can help smother overwintering pupae in the soil.