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spinosad for sawfly/roseslug - success
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Posted by fgilles02420 z6 MA (My Page) on Mon, Jun 25, 07 at 12:32
| Last year I posted here about a significant problem I was having with my roses: the leaves would end up lacy, brown, skeletonized and the plant would eventually defoliate, although I would never see any visible insects. Several people pointed to the rose sawfly or roseslug larvae as the likely culprit. It wasn't at all uniform - different roses had remarkably different susceptibility to this pest, the most vulnerable being "William Baffin".
This year as soon as the damage began to appear I did a single application of Spinosad in May(this was before any flowers had appeared so no bees were around). It stopped the damage in its tracks; I left one plant unsprayed as a control and it is now almost leafless.
So, can others add their opinions? Does this pest(s) breeze through in the spring and then disappear for the year making second applications unnecessary? Would you recommend other alternatives (hort oil, soap?) as equally effective? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: spinosad for sawfly/roseslug - success
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| What exactly is Spinosad? Is there a brand name for it? It is organic? |
RE: spinosad for sawfly/roseslug - success
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| Many companies are marketing products with Spinosad as the primary active ingredient. Yes, it is organic. It's a biological bacterium agent that primarily affects chewing insects. |
RE: spinosad for sawfly/roseslug - success
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| I've tried Rose Pharm spray, and I think it did help. It contains peppermint oil and glycerin. I recently started using Jungle Rain Clean Leaf Spray for the occasional Japanese Beetle, it might work on sawfly as well. |
RE: spinosad for sawfly/roseslug - success
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| Dusting with kitchen flour might be something to try. |
RE: spinosad for sawfly/roseslug - success
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| Spinosad is certified organic by most organic farming regulators. It is a relatively specific insecticide that is most active against sawflies, caterpillars, and thrips, but I wouldn't apply it to open flowers because it is somewhat active against bees. Rose slugs in my garden are generally controlled by wasps picking them off. Also you can just wipe the underside of infested leaves. Spraying spinosad could be useful on large plants that are susceptible. Brands include Bulls Eye, Fertilome Bagworm Borer, and Monterrey. |
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