Rose Sawfly (Arge ochropus)

Description

The adults reaching a length of 7-10 mm are primarily in season between April and May. Their thorax and head appear black, while the wings and abdomen are of a reddish-orange coloration. They are closely similar to another sawfly species, the turnip sawfly, though the main difference lies in their antennae. The rose sawfly’s antenna has three sections, the third highly elongated. On the other hand, the turnip sawfly has 10-11 sections in its antenna.

Distribution: Native – Asia Minor, Europe, Turkmenistan, Caucasus, Northern Iran, and Western Siberia Invasive – Eastern Canada, northeastern United States

Habitat: Gardens and hedgerows, especially in areas of rose plantations

Do They Bite/Sting: No

Lifespan: 2 months – 2 years

Predators: Predaceous beetles, insectivorous birds, small mammals, predaceous beetles, viral and fungal diseases

Behavior and Characteristics

Diet

The adult’s diet includes the pollen and nectar of hogweed, wild angelica, and tansy. The larva feeds on several rose species like the burnet rose and dog rose.

Life Cycle

1. Egg Stage

Around 16-18 eggs are laid on the stems of rose plants by the females.

2. Larva Stage

The larvae of the rose sawfly, also known as the rose slugs, have a bristled appearance with a slimy yellow body and black markings.

Signs of a Rose Sawfly Damage

The rose slugs begin attacking the rose plants during late spring, chewing the leaf’s tender parts, and skeletonising it completely.

Getting Rid of a Rose Sawfly

Applying systematic insecticides to the rose bushes during early or mid-spring is one of the effective control measures. Another manner of checking infestation is by taking away the host plants the adults feed on. Like, the common tansy’s pollen and nectar are the adult’s preferred food. So gardeners having rose plantations would perhaps refrain from growing common tansy in the vicinity.