Green caterpillar on rose leaf

Hi all!
Fairly new at all things roses. I noticed little caterpillars eating leaves on one of my six rose plants today (image attached, I think). Otherwise the plant seems happy. Should I worry? Thanks in advance for your help! M

 

Don't have my glasses on, but they look like Sawfly larvae to me @MarionGarden. Just apply a general plant bug spray which mentions them and they will stop munching those leaves. It should keep them at bay for a little while, too.

Nick

 

Most annoying when we notice some little critter chompping away on our plants, especially my roses. Many of us gardeners have come to dislike using chemicals in the garden, but Please little bug, not mine.

In addition to having become avid gardeners, most of us have also aquired an interest in other forms of wildlife. I am certain that David Attenborough could discuss this until the cows come home. Grateful thanks to the BBC for promoting many of the natural world programs on tv. We can't overlook the established fact that, we and our precious plants suddent become invaded soon after the winter fades and spring is ushered in. Now is the time for our wildlife to turn their fancies towards spring. Suddenly our gardens can become the feeding/hunting grounds for many mum and dad birds. The kids have got to be fed. So please spare a though for our birds. Just imagine you as a naked tot (tit) in the nest. Mouth (beak wide open for food) and mum returns lovingly with a beakful of poisoned bugs etc.

 

@Mike Allen LOL You're making me feel awful now mate, but hey, a great reminder to emphasise the fact that the spray should preferably just be used only on the affected shrub unless absolutely necessary. I hate using pesticides and fungicides, but what organic options do we have, really? I do try to be really patient and wait for the bug predators to eventually appear in most cases...

Nick

 

I never use pestistides to i have found what works for me is a little (qtr ) white vinigar and 3 parts water in a spray bottle spray on the plants it deters most insects even snails eating your plant although it does not kill them they hate the smell so they go away somewhere else in meantime the birds see them and mike foodtime for the birds fresh , clean,juicy bugs for the little or big birds lol

 

Thank you everyone! What is the risk of leaving them be? Will they eat all the leaves or only a few? Will the plant suffer?
I am keen to try the vinegar solution: can I use any type of vinegar? I currently have malt or white wine in the house...

 

Thanks for the warning Wiseowl. I will try Janet's solution and keep you posted. Not really keen on squashing them by hand yet... not if I can avoid it.

 

Hmmmm, do you think there may be a young blue tit taking one of the caterpillars with mother blue tits words ringing in his ears "you wash your mouth out with soap" probably not

 

Hi either white or cider vinegar not malt but remember white is cheaper than cider vinegar but after a few times if the solution isn’t working don’t increase the amount of vinegar you use instead try wise owl suggestion

spray with soap water . Take some liquid soap and mix it with water, 1 tsp soap to 6 oz of water. Put it in a spray bottle and spray it all over your rose leaves. or you can use garlic spray

Garlic which a gardener told me is s a naturally acidic substance that will kill and repel caterpillars. In a spray bottle, mix two cups of water with two spoonfuls of garlic powder. Add a teaspoon of dish soap, which will create an adhesive element that will allow the spray to stick to caterpillars and plant leaves. Spray onto the caterpillars as well as surrounding shrubbery and soil.

After you have gotten rid of the caterpillars, make sure none return. You can make a simple repellent from natural ingredients. Hot pepper is a natural insect repellent. Grind and sprinkle hot peppers around the lawn and garden, or mix two cups of water with two spoonfuls of hot pepper powder (cayenne pepper, chili pepper or jalapeno pepper). Spray onto plants and surrounding areas to keep caterpillars at bay, and repeat every few weeks or after a hard rain.

 

May I thank, Marion Gardener for starting this thread. It is developing into an interesting subject. Please do not misunderstand me. I appreciate all comments without any kind of malice.

I openly admit, I am not a chemist so Like most I need to refer to the label and instructions. I attempted to amuse in a previous reply, about the offending critters, the nursing birds etc. Of course I have a great love and respect for all forms of life, (even my downstairs neighbour). So can we elaborate on some points.

Most of us tend to be against using garden chemicals. Then alternative solutions come to the fore. My bit about the feeding birds etc. Having in part studied zoology etc, I am fully aware that animals of all kinds have a digestive sytem different to us humans. The dasis here relates to food etc actually digested. With our feathered friends, the bugs etc whatever are gathered up and quickly swallowed by hungary offspring. The latter's intestines are not yet fully grown. So in short. I am against using chemicals that can kill erradicate etc creepy crawlings in my garden, thus protecting wildlife. However. I am quite prepared to concoct some alternative wish-washy what have you to actually bring the same end to the intruder.

Back to the nest. Hi kids, here's a beakful for you. Pickled caterpillar. For you a spicy peppered bug.

Just a thought.

 

I do tend to plant some plants near trees so birds can have feast lol and i have climbing rose not far from oak tree also a climbing jasimne and clematis which all are doing well and pest free of insects but of course some plants away from trees are more prone to pests so sorry mike thats when i use my vinegar but i am going to also use soap a great idea i did have more wild life in my garden but anything comes on my cat territory watch out

 

Hi all! I cut the leaves with caterpillars on them and put them at the other side of the garden. Hopefully they won't find their way back!
I have another question regarding roses. When I dead head spent flowers, what should I do when several sprout from the same stem? Cut each flower stem or the main stem? I added a photo as an example. Thank you!

 

@MarionGarden this is the culprit, photo taken a few weeks ago, strangely I have no problem with the rose it was on but I've noticed today rose teasing georgia has got a few chewed leaves but cannot see any caterpillars.