Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!
The rose may be the queen of flowers, but it is not safe from enemies. In fact, there are plenty of rose pests that can seriously affect it. Then quick action is usually required. In order to be able to combat pests, however, as a garden owner and rose lover you first have to recognize them. The signs of damage that appear on the roses help with this. Here are the most important and most common pests.
rose pests
Uninvited guests are spreading across your roses? Which pest is it? Here you will find a list of 8 common rose pests and their symptoms.
aphids
Aphids can be a real nuisance in the garden. They usually appear more frequently in spring and populate the leaves of plants in particular. The animals usually don't care what kind of plant it is. Of course, roses also come into their sights.
damage picture
An aphid infestation is relatively easy to spot. If there are a lot of small animals on the rose petals or on the stems, you can assume that they are aphids. They are about the size of a pinhead and are green, red, black, or yellow. If individual leaves then also curl up or wither, you usually have certainty. Whether the aphids pose a threat to the roses depends on the intensity of the infestation. Few animals are not a problem. Dense colonies, which can occur especially in warm, dry weather, are a serious threat to the rose.
combat
A larger aphid infestation must be combated. Above all, the animals pierce the shoots and buds, from which they then suck plant sap. This can be deadly for the plant. It is advisable to fight the aphids with natural means and to avoid chemical products. A self-prepared nettle brew and soapy water with alcohol have proven to be very effective. Both are sprayed undiluted on the plant.
rose leaf scroll wasp
The rose leaf scroll wasp uses the rose petals as a nursery for its offspring. She pricks the leaf, which of course damages the plant. You usually don't get to see the animals themselves.
damage picture
An infestation with rose leaf scroll wasps can usually only be recognized indirectly. Leaves curled up like a cigar are a relatively clear indication that wasps left their larvae there. They are an almost unmistakable sign of an infestation.
combat
The leaf roller wasp is one of the rose pests that is extremely easy to control. Simply remove the curled leaves. This automatically removes the larva that nests in it. It is important not to simply throw the leaves on the ground or in the compost. They belong in the garbage can or should be burned.
rose sawfly
In contrast to the rose sawfly wasp, rose sawflies and their larvae are easy to recognize. The animals are mainly active from May to June and do not appear every year.
damage picture
Rose sawflies have a glossy black coloring. They lay their eggs on the underside of leaves. Larvae, about one centimeter in size, then develop from these eggs, which are somewhat reminiscent of slugs and have a yellowish lower body. The animals eat the rose petals by literally scraping them off the top. As a rule, all that remains is a transparent, fragile leaf skeleton that can be easily identified. With this pest, two types of damage appear at the same time - namely the larvae and the destroyed leaves.
combat
Rose sawflies can only be combated really effectively with insecticides from specialist shops. It is important to only buy products that specifically target stinging, biting and sucking insects. The respective insecticide is then sprayed on the plant.
rose gall wasp
The rose gall wasp also uses roses to lay its eggs. Above all, it prefers the shoots of the plant, which are punctured and damaged as a result.
damage picture
A rose gall wasp infestation is extremely easy to spot. By piercing the shoot, a moss-like ball or growth develops there within a relatively short time, in which the larvae grow. This ball is often referred to as a rose ball and is usually not to be overlooked.
combat
Fighting an infestation of the roses with the gall wasp is very easy. You simply cut off the ball and dispose of it in the locked dustbin. Nothing more is needed.
Rosehopper
Rosehopper infestation is extremely dangerous for the plant. They also use roses to lay eggs. If no action is taken, these pests usually lead to the death of the plant.
damage picture
The insects are extremely small and have either a light green or rather yellowish body colour. They are usually on the underside of the leaf. They can be recognized by the white speckles that form on the upper side of the leaf.
combat
To prevent rosehopper infestation, it is usually sufficient to cut off and discard the affected leaves. If the infestation is particularly severe, you should use suitable insecticides from specialist shops to be on the safe side. Under no circumstances should the infestation be ignored.
spider mites
Spider mites also like roses. Since these tiny insects cannot normally be seen with the naked eye, the damage they cause plays a particularly important role.
Spider mite infestation
damage picture
Yellow and brown speckles on the top of a rose petal are a first sign of spider mite infestation on the plant. The animals themselves sit on the underside of the leaf and suck off plant sap there. They form a white web that increasingly covers the entire leaf. Spider mites usually do not cause lasting damage to roses. However, the webs disturb the optics considerably.
combat
To get rid of the spider mites, we recommend spraying with stinging nettle decoction or with manure made from field horsetail. Both are relatively effective. It is also possible to get at the spider mites with so-called predatory mites. These can be purchased from garden supply stores. They are absolutely harmless to the roses themselves.
rose moth
The rose moth is a moth that has a very great fondness for roses. It eats shoots and leaves and lays its eggs on branches.
White-bound rose moth, Acleris bergmanniana
damage picture
Since the rose moth is extremely voracious, it leaves a lot of tracks on the leaves, shoots and buds. If there are many small feeding holes on a leaf, this is a clear indication of an infestation with these insects. In addition, the nests for the caterpillars are usually easy to see on the tips of the shoots. Such a nest consists of several leaves that literally stick together.
combat
Fighting the rose moth is very easy. It is usually sufficient to collect the larvae by hand and dispose of them in the garbage can. Affected shoots should also be cut back well
Rose shoot borer
The rose shoot borers are nothing more than the larvae of the sawfly. They can cause considerable damage to the roses and even lead to the death of the plant.
damage picture
An infestation with rose shoot borers can be recognized relatively easily by the boreholes in the stem. In this way, the larvae bore into the inside of the stalk, eat the marrow there and work their way further up. In addition to the holes, the appearance of drill dust on the leaves or on the ground under the plant is also an indication of an infestation with this pest.
Borehole of the rose shoot borer
combat
Rose pests such as the rose shoot borer can only be combated radically. The best way to do this is to cut off and dispose of affected shoots very generously. The affected areas must be consistently removed.
vine weevil
The vine weevil is a nocturnal beetle that has a certain predilection for eating rose petals. There are actually two pests - namely the adult animals and their larvae.
damage picture
Feeding spots on the leaves, which have the shape of a bay, are a clear indication that the vine weevil has passed them. Eaten leaves usually also mean that at least one of the beetles is always in the vicinity of the roses. However, during the day it hides in the ground, where it lays its eggs in the immediate vicinity of the roots of the roses. The larvae that develop from this then feed on the roots. They do not lead to a concrete damage picture. If there are feeding spots, one can also assume that there are eggs in the ground.
combat
To fight the vine weevil yourself, it usually helps to vigorously tap the plants. However, this should definitely be done during twilight. The larvae can best be fought with nematodes, which are available in specialist shops and are planted in the root area. In a way, they are pests that are only dangerous for the larvae.