Rose: Roseslug
categories: Flowers Ornamentals Rose Rose Insects
last review date: 2025-07-28 11:28
Photo by: A.L. Antonelli
Biology
Rose slugs are small yellow-green larvae (about 1/4″ long) that skeletonize the upper leaf surface.
Signs of feeding include dry brown blotches, where all of the leaf except the veins and the lowest layer of leaf tissue are removed.
Rose slugs are not true slugs but are actually the larvae of a sawfly.
They rarely occur in large numbers but can do considerable aesthetic damage.
Management Options
Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for successful problem management.
Non-chemical Management
Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!
- Hand-pick and destroy individual rose slugs.
- Wash rose slugs off foliage with a strong stream of water.
Chemical Management
IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides.
- Apply when first noticed.
- These products are toxic to bees.
- Sevin (carbaryl) is particularly dangerous to bees. Avoid using carbaryl if there is any possibility of pesticide drifting onto nearby blooming plants.
Approved Pesticides
Examples of pesticides that are legal for home use in Washington State are listed below.
The list may not include all products registered for this use.
WSU Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination.
Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension office.