Rose Slugs

Rose slugs are more pests that can cause damage to your flowers. They are a little different than the common garden variety.

Although they look like caterpillars they are actually a different species altogether. These are actually worm-like larvae of sawflies and there are actually 3 main breeds found. There are the bristly, European, and the curled varieties. All are pretty similar with a short body less than an inch long with a light green color. They are usually just found in different locations. They all love to chomp down on foliage, especially leaves. They'll leave holes all over the place, which will eventually wither and possibly kill the plant if left unchecked.

For treatment, the quickest way is to check for eggs in the main vein of the leaf. You can just flick them off with your hands. A spray of water can help to some extent but these suckers can really hold on, so sometimes you really need to get in close. They can spread fast so its important to check daily if you live in an infested area.

Many other gardeners swear by hair, especially dog hair. This seems to kill the larvae as they hibernate, preventing future infections but won't necessarily kill a current outbreak. This is important because there can be several hatchings of the larvae during the year and it can overwhelm your plants.

If you have a larger infestation then you can use an insecticide or oil spray in moderate quantities. Note that insecticides effective against caterpillars such as Bacillus thuringiensis won't work against this nasty critter.