They're back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[roitelet]

Did a check of the Gooseberries last night and what did I find, SAWFLY. Look out folks!!

[ancee]

Roitlet, it's my first time growing them this year. I got some scraggly spindly looking ones off a friend from his allotment. They've started to grow when they looked all but dead, what should I be looking for?

[roitelet]

Little caterpillars, there are about three generations a season. They usually start on the lower leaves. You need to act quickly or the will eat all the leaves.

This is the only occasion where I use a systemic insecticide. I've tried all the other greener methods and they don't work. I find that if I can control them one year then the problem does not arise again for another couple of years.

[chris]

Can't you net them roielet?

[Nicos]

Yikes- already????

will keep my eye out- thanks for the warning

[roitelet]

Can't you net them roielet?

I suppose I could but the caterpillars fall to the ground and pupate in the soil round the bushes then hatch into flies and the whole thing starts all over again. I could then possibly be containing the flies and make the matter worse.

[poly]

Had absolutely loads of caterpillars last year, hoping this year won't be quite so bad

[roitelet]

Had absolutely loads of caterpillars last year, hoping this year won't be quite so bad

They will be worse if you don't get rid of the first hatching!!!!!!!

[redser]

Had it bad last year and spotted some on the lower leaves tonight. Classic lines of tiny caterpillars running up the leaf veins. I did my best to remove affected leaves but you never get them all do you?

[mrbadexample]

Yep, spotted the first of the year on Monday. Gave them a good spraying with Provado, as I agree that it's the only thing that works. I dilute it 50/50 with water - it still works, you spend half as much and put half as much chemical on your bush.