Getting rid of sawfly larvae on roses
What is the best insecticide to rid sawfly larvae from my roses but won't harm butterflies and birds?
**FULL QUESTION**
Dear Gardening Life,
I have many different kinds of roses, which I love, but every year I get an infestation of small green worms that will devour all the foliage unless I spray. I hate to use the spray as I have many butterflies and birds flitting about in my garden. I have used Floritect in the past and, if I use it about every two weeks, I can keep everything under control. This year, I tried EcoSense Insecticide, which I believe is more environmentally friendly. Can you suggest an effective product that will kill the worms but not harm anything else?
*—Pat Butler*
**FULL ANSWER**
Hi Pat!
The worms are probably sawfly larvae. Most insecticides have negative side effects; Floritect contains highly toxic carbaryl, which may kill the worms but also beneficial insects, earthworms and all other soil life. The active ingredient in EcoSense is pyrethrins, which are plant-based but still toxic to bees and aquatic life. Friendlier solutions include neem oil, insecticidal soap and the beneficial predators, trichogramma wasps (all available at Natural Insect Control). BT (*Bacillus thuringiensis*) is often recommended but is effective only on caterpillars not sawfly larvae. Encouraging birds (nature’s best pest control) to your garden will help and of course, there’s always hand-picking. Healthy roses are more pest- and disease-resistant. Amend the soil with lots of compost or well-rotted manure and use a woody mulch to encourage beneficial mycorrhizae in the soil. Regular spraying with compost tea for a foliar feed will also keep your plants in topnotch shape. Hope that helps!
*—Karen York, GL Botanical Editor*
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