[barremic]

Hi All

Wondering can anyone say is this a sawfly larva, my gooseberry bushes were covered in these guys last year and again this year.

I have managed to hose off a few of them but there are so many

Any ideas

[michael brenock]

yes this is gooseberry sawfly alright, thanks for alerting us.shake the branch vigorously until they drop onto the ground and handpick off the remainder. brush up those on the ground and dispose of in an area away from gooseberries, a second generation can occur.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

[James Kilkelly]

That's them alright.
I've been picking a good few of them off the two Euonymus at the front of the house over the last few days.
You can spray with Liquid derris to clear them as well barremic.

[michael brenock]

gooseberry sawfly as far as i know is specific to gooseberries, those attacking the Euonymus are not sawflies but probably the grub of the small ermine moth but i am open to correction
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

[paddy mac fisto]

A good article in todays times suggests boiling rhubarb leaves and adding soapflakes. Apparently this is a great spray that kills lots of little creepy crawlies. Apparently it's frowned on in the EU though. Lisbon referendum anyone?

[James Kilkelly]

Yep great organic pest spray alright paddy mac fisto.
The leaves contain great quantities of that oxalic acid which makes your teeth feel gritty after eating something made with the lower oxalic content stalks.

It's worth noting though that even the vapours during boiling this mix can be toxic, so leave the windows open or do it outside.
Also wear gloves and mask when boiling and applying to the plant.
Organic sprays can sometimes have as bad an affect on us gardeners as the commercial ones.