Sawfly already !

[vixylix]

I just hope they're not too spicy for the birds!

[Losos]

Yes, would never use spray.

That's understandable. However I would mention again the need to 'break the cycle'

One solution for the pear midge that I read involved putting a plastic sheet under the tree (or bush) and when you hosepipe them off gather the sheet and all the caterpillars and deposit them in your black bin.
Put the sheet back and when you see more hosepipe them off again etc. etc.

Very labour intensive but should stop them getting into the soil and hopefully prevent an infestation next year.

[HoneyChild]

I just noticed them on my red currant bush today and have done my best to kill them all. I will also be keeping an eye out for my gooseberry bush as it will probably be next. Last year they got stripped bare so I certainly cannot rely on the sparrows to eat them!

[HoneyChild]

I found some holes in the leaves of a jostaberry today. When I looked closer I found the larvae and squished them. I did see any adult fly on the plant but I assumed it was just a regular fly and thought nothing of it. Now looking at photos online I'm thinking it may have been an adult sawfly. Something to be aware of!

[veggiechicken]

Saw rolled up leaves on a blackcurrant yesterday with a tiny green caterpillar inside the roll. Not sure whether it was sawfly, it didn't seem to survive the unrolling.

[mrbadexample]

Saw rolled up leaves on a blackcurrant yesterday with a tiny green caterpillar inside the roll. Not sure whether it was sawfly, it didn't seem to survive the unrolling.

I think the rolled-up leaf thingy is due to a moth of some sort, not sawfly.

Could be wrong though.

I have previously reported sawfly as early as 2nd April, so I don't think they're particularly early this year.

[ecudc]

There was a gqt question on this a month or so back and I’m trying to remember what they said. One of the solutions I think was to put newspaper under the bush and give it a good shake. Laying a barrier down between the soil and the bush in Feb next year might stop their ability to crawl up the bush.

[Marb67]

I am going to try very hot chilli poweder and somthing like honey on the stems.