Rose sawfly (sometimes called rose slug) larvae are a common pest of roses. The early feeding damage causes “windowpanes” of transparent leaf tissue on the leaf as the larvae feed on the surface of the leaf. Rose sawfly (also known as rose slug) damage. …

Inspect bushes every week from April/May onwards for the signs of sawfly infestation then search for the larvae and remove by hand. Position susceptible plants in an open position where birds can easily feed on the larvae.

The combination of Insecticidal Soap and Botanical Pyrethrins will kill Sawfly Larvae on contact if they are spotted in your trees. Azadirachtin is also an effective control for Sawfly Larvae.

1. If numbers of larvae are too high for hand picking, control may be achieved by spraying with pesticides.
2. Organic contact insecticides containing natural pyrethrins (e.g. Bug Clear Gun for Fruit & Veg, Neudorff Bug Free Bug and Larvae Killer).

Use an Insecticide. Horticultural oil, insecticidal soaps, neem oil, bifenthrin, carbaryl, malathion, permethrin, cyfluthrin, imidacloprid, and acephate can all be used to control sawflies. Apply pesticides only when larvae are actually present, before infestations reach critical levels.

Water hosing the rose slugs You can pick them and spray insecticidal soap over the slug to dehydrate and kill them. The pressure of the water will also kill a few of the slugs. Use 3 tablespoons of insecticidal soap with 1 quart of water and spray it direct on the rose slugs that have fallen down.

Beetles. A number of different beetle species feed on roses. Many of these beetles feed mainly on flower buds or open blossoms, but can feed on leaves. Since many beetles feed mainly at night, the gardener rarely sees them, only the damage that they cause.

A: Rabbits, squirrels and deer eat rose buds and shoots.

Here is a look at the options.

1. Put in a barrier fence. Among the most foolproof deterrents are physical barriers like fences.
2. Spray Them Away.
3. Scare them off.
4. Plant their least-favorite foods.
5. Plants Deer Dislike.
6. Spring-blooming perennials.
7. Summer-blooming perennials.
8. Groundcovers.

Gardener’s Friends: Minute pirate bugs, lacewigs and lady beetles are some of the natural predators of rose pests. Keeping a healthy garden, encouraging plant diversity among your roses and tolerating minor insect damage can go a long way towards attracting more of these natural enemies.