Rose slugs are pests that can pose a threat to the beautiful, lush leaves of your rose plant, making it crucial to maintain their health and appearance.
Keeping the leaves of your rose plant vibrant and full is an essential component in properly tending to your roses.
In this article, we’ll discuss what rose slugs are, where they come from, and how to take necessary precautions in order to control their presence in the garden.
What Are Rose Slugs?
Despite their name, rose slugs are not actually slugs at all.
In fact, they are the larvae of the wasp known as the sawfly (Endelomyia aethiops).
Even upon close inspection, it is easy for one to confuse rose slugs with caterpillars, but don’t let this fool you!
They are detrimental pests and cause serious harm to the well-being of your rose plants.
Rose slugs can be separated into two groups: European rose slug and bristly rose slug.
| European Rose Slug | Bristly Rose Slug | |
| Color | yellow/green body and brown head | starts green, and turns browner in color |
| Length | 1/2” to 3/4” | 1/2” to 3/4” |
The European rose slug has a slimy texture with a yellow/green body and brown head.
Bristly rose slug is similar in shape and color, though its body is lined with bristle-textured hair.
While the bristly rose slug starts green, as it continues to feed, the bristly rose slug turns browner in color.
Both categories of the rose slug are the same size, between 1/2” to 3/4” in length.
Damage Caused By Rose Slugs
Both bristly and European rose slugs attack the leaves of the rose plant, though their approach is where these two rose slugs differ.
Bristly rose slug likes to feed from the underside of the rose leaves, European rose slug feed on the surface of the leaves.
Rose slugs are most active during the night, so both categories are tricky to catch in action.
Instead, you’re more likely to find the damage left behind by a rose slug.
These pests devour the leaves of your rose plant until all that’s left behind is the skeleton of veins.
Where Do Rose Slugs Come From?
Rose slugs are the larval form of the sawfly, so if you spot sawflies in your garden, then there is a good chance that rose slugs will follow in time.
Sawflies are a variety of wasps.
While adult sawflies have a short time of life, they can lay a clutch of eggs in that small amount of time that will hatch into a new generation of rose slugs.
Sawflies have a black and yellow striped body that measures between 1/2” to 3/4” in length.
Although due to their short-lived nature, it can be difficult to find sawflies before it is too late.
How To Get Rid Of Rose Slugs
Rose slugs can wreak havoc on the leaves of your roses, causing significant damage if left untreated.
Next, we will discuss effective methods for eliminating these pests using chemical and organic controls.
Chemical Control
Because these rose pests are active at the night, it is important to select a pesticide that is long-lasting in order to be effective.
Rotenone and diatomaceous earth are effective pesticides against rose slugs.
Apply either of these pesticides to the entirety of the rose plant. Pay careful attention to the areas where rose slugs have already been feasting.
Organic Control
Rose slugs are large enough that they can be picked off by hand and smashed.
Catching them requires going out at night or early in the morning to inspect the leaves of your rose plants (both the surface and underside).
You may also choose to prune the branch that contains infested leaves.
The rose slug needs to crawl from leaf to leaf, so there is a good chance it have not traveled far.
After pruning the affected branch, dispose of it in a plastic bag in order to be certain that the rose slug cannot return.
Other gardeners find that DIY solutions are effective.
Including these sprays made with ingredients that you can find around your home:
Vinegar-Based Spray:
In a bowl, combine: 1 tablespoon of vinegar 1 cup of water Then combine: 1 1/2 tablespoons of baking soda 1 tablespoon dish soap 1 tablespoon of cooking oil (any variety will do)
Mix the two substances together in a spray bottle and apply them to your plants as necessary. Make sure to spray this mixture onto both sides of the leaves to ensure maximum efficiency.
Soap-Based Spray:
1 teaspoon of dish soap 1 quart of water 1 cup of rubbing alcohol
Combine these ingredients in a spray bottle and shake the bottle to emulsify the mixture. Spray on your rose plants as needed. Make sure to spray this mixture on both sides of the leaves.
Preventative Measures
With all pests, early detection is one of the keys to preventing rose slug devastation.
While the rose slug is difficult to come across due to its active hours, it is not impossible.
If you suspect damage from these rose pests, then we highly suggest staking out your garden in the night or early morning.
You’re most likely to catch the culprit during these hours.
If you’re lucky enough to catch a rose slug in the act, then do not hesitate to pick it off the leaves and crush it by hand.
We suggest wearing thick gloves, if you’re squeamish about crushing bugs.
If you still don’t have the heart to squash it, dropping the rose slug into a bucket of water and insecticidal soap is also efficient in controlling them.
In addition, a long-lasting pesticide will help deter these pests from eating your roses’ leaves and control the population.
Insecticidal soap, diatomaceous earth, or rotenone are all powerfully effective pesticides to use against rose slugs.
Conclusion
Waking up to find that your rose plants have been ravaged by rose slugs can be incredibly disheartening. Luckily, with simple solutions, you can swiftly eradicate the rose slug from your garden.
Whether you use chemical control methods such as pesticides, or organic methods such as hand-picking or DIY pesticide sprays, there are options in order to control rose slugs.
Frequent inspections of your plants for any signs of damage will give you the fighting edge against any pest infestation. And if you happen upon a rose slug, then don’t worry- you know how to handle this!
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