Content
- Rose leaf wasp - Detect, Fight, Prevent
- Life cycle of the rose leaf wasp
- Treatment and prevention
- Remove leaves
- Promote natural enemies
- Use pesticides only in case of very strong infestation
- Tips
The larvae of the rose petals love to feed the roses
Rose leaf wasp - Detect, Fight, Prevent
This tiny, only about four millimeters large leaf wasp (Blennocampa pusilla) lays its eggs on the leaf edges, which then protectively roll around the larva, yellowing and falling off. Affected leaves should be collected and disposed of with household waste as the larvae develop on the compost.
Life cycle of the rose leaf wasp
Females of the rose petal wasp lay their eggs on the edge of the rose petal, with usually no more than two or three eggs per leaf. Subsequently, the adult animal stings the midrib of the leaf so that it curls up. The larvae hatch between April and June and eat the rose petals, so that they die off by the damage and finally fall off. In autumn, the larvae bury themselves in the soil around the rose to pupate there over the cold season. Next spring new rose leaf wasps appear, which in turn deposit eggs on the rose - the cycle begins again. Attacked roses usually do not go in, but they do not look good.
Treatment and prevention
It is important to start the treatment as early as possible in order to curb spread. Beginning with the leaf shoot in April, start to carefully scan the rose petals for traces of rolling.
Remove leaves
Affected leaves should be removed immediately.
Promote natural enemies
Fortunately, the rose leaf wasp possesses many natural enemies who like to settle for animal-friendly management of the garden and fight the pest (as well as other rose pests). Especially birds (especially the blue tit), but also hedgehogs, shrews and insects such as parasitic wasps, rune and soft beetles and spiders like to eat the pest and help in a very natural way, to contain an infestation. Prerequisite, however, is to make the garden close to nature.
Use pesticides only in case of very strong infestation
Part of a natural management is to avoid the use of pesticides as possible - they meet not only the pests, but also the desired livestock. Only in the case of a very strong and otherwise unimaginable infestation by the rose leaf wasp, this measure should be considered. In the specialized trade ask for suitable and approved means, which are sprayed not only on the plant itself, but also on the ground in the late winter. The treatment is repeated in spring if you spray the underside of the leaves even before curling.
Tips
Holes in the rose petals, on the other hand, indicate an infestation with the larvae of the rose-petal wasp.