For the past several weeks I have noticed damage to the leaves of my roses. Each

Rose sawfly on a rose leaf. Photo: SD Frank

year this happens and it is the work of sawflies. Sawflies are actually in the order Hymenoptera with the other wasps even though their larvae feed on leaves and look like caterpillars. At least three species feed on roses including the curled rose sawfly, Allantus cinctus, and bristly roseslug, Endelomyia aethiops. Damage can become severe but unless you like your roses pristine (which I guess a lot of people do), they generally are tolarable. In large plantings in commercial landscapes I have seen plants defoliated. In large or prominent rose beds look for damaged leaves or frass the search the undersides of leaves for larvae. If insecticide is

Frass and damage indicative of sawflies on rose leaves. Photo: SD Frank

necessary consult the Southern Pest Control Guide for Nursery and Landscape Plants.