What is rose leaf rolling sawfly? Rose leaf-rolling sawfly is an
insect pest of roses. Female sawflies insert eggs into rose
leaflets, and while doing so, secrete chemicals that induces the
leaf rolling. Caterpillar-like larvae emerge from the eggs and
feed within the rolled leaflets. Attacks are particularly severe
if there is warm weather during the egg-laying period in late
spring-early summer, as this increases the sawfly’s activity.
Light infestations can usually be tolerated, but where a large
proportion of foliage has been affected, the plant may suffer a
loss of vigour. Non chemical control Pick off affected leaves
and dispose of them before the larvae complete their feeding;
this is only feasible when comparatively few leaves are
affected. The removal of large numbers of leaves would be more
harmful to the rose than the pest damage. Cultivation of the
soil around roses during the winter may expose overwintering
larvae, but may also damage the roots and encourage suckering.
It can be difficult to prev