What’s eating my ? bushes?

Question

Something is eating all my ? bushes. I remember years ago in North Carolina the same thing happened and I bought Sevendust it was some kind of bug.could you help me with this problem and tell me what I can buy that is not expensive so I can help my rose bushes look beautiful again?please help. They eat my roses down to the stem and leave the stem. I hope I did the pictures right I have never did this before I have never had this many roses. We did have a very cold winter so I’m wondering if that had anything to do with it.

Answer 1

Your pictures came through and are very helpful. Thank you. The cold and sudden onset of winter where I live caused a lot of winter die-back but I don’t think it is related to pest infestations. I think you have sawfly larvae eating the leaves. These are also called rose slugs. They look like a 1/2-3/4 inch yellow-green caterpillar and feed on the underneath sides of leaves. Initially the leaf develops a gray blotch which becomes a hole. Be a sleuth and look all over the bottom of leaves to find some larvae or egg masses. Proper ID is the first step toward effective treatment. Here is some info on control measures: http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/insects/sawflies/rose-and-pear-slugs-sawflies.aspx