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aragwan Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 11 Jun 2009 Posts: 3
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 8:31 pm Post subject: Worms on fruit leaves |
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Hi,
I'm new to gardening and new to this site. I need advice. I've just noticed tiny worms (grey with white stripes!) eating all the leaves from my gooseberry and redberry shrubs. The fruit itself appears to be untouched. What to do??
Thanks everyone,
Adrienne |
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Belfast Rank attained: Sessile Oak Tree


Joined: 23 Apr 2009 Posts: 297 Location: County Limerick
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 9:19 pm Post subject: Re: Worms on fruit leaves |
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aragwan wrote: | Hi,
I'm new to gardening and new to this site. I need advice. I've just noticed tiny worms (grey with white stripes!) eating all the leaves from my gooseberry and redberry shrubs. The fruit itself appears to be untouched. What to do??
Thanks everyone,
Adrienne |
they are sawfly kill them as soon as you can or they will strip all the leaves.
Common gooseberry sawfly (Nematus ribesii)
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0601/gooseberry_sawfly.asp
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Salkeela Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 07 Jun 2009 Posts: 4 Location: Co Down, N.Ireland
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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Yup! I have one denuded bush this year. Thankfully the other gooseberry bushes are not close and have been left untouched.
Mine you they did start to try to eat the redcurrant bush close by...... but thankfully only did minor damage. _________________ Plant plenty. Celebrate success. Forget about the rest. |
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Belfast Rank attained: Sessile Oak Tree


Joined: 23 Apr 2009 Posts: 297 Location: County Limerick
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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I have this problem every year. they come to 2 or 3 waves each year.
I hand pick them.
Picture of the eggs

Last edited by Belfast on Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:52 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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michael brenock Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 12 Aug 2008 Posts: 1275 Location: cork
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 9:48 pm Post subject: |
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shake the bush vigorously while you have a sheet of plastic or paper on the ground, draw out the plastic and leave nearby for the birds, you can alternatively use a strong spray of water and wash them off. If left unattended you may have a further attack in early Autumn and guaranteed to have them back next year. As they pupate and over winter in the ground under and near the bush a woven plastic mulch will reduce or eliminate the problem
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired) |
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Sean Ph'lib Rank attained: Ash Tree


Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 201 Location: Co Kerry
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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Shaking the bush, as Michael says, is the best way to deal with them. They were always a problem for me until I got my hens. Now the hens scrape under the bushes in the winter and the problem is solved - no more gooseberry sawfly! |
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Belfast Rank attained: Sessile Oak Tree


Joined: 23 Apr 2009 Posts: 297 Location: County Limerick
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:52 pm Post subject: |
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michael brenock wrote: | shake the bush vigorously while you have a sheet of plastic or paper on the ground, draw out the plastic and leave nearby for the birds, you can alternatively use a strong spray of water and wash them off. If left unattended you may have a further attack in early Autumn and guaranteed to have them back next year. As they pupate and over winter in the ground under and near the bush a woven plastic mulch will reduce or eliminate the problem
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired) |
Thanks Michael I think I will give that a try this year.
I have not seen any on my gooseberry this year so far.
Has anyone tried Nemasys Caterpillar Killer ?
http://www.nemasysinfo.com/caterpillar.shtml
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aragwan Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 11 Jun 2009 Posts: 3
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Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 12:39 pm Post subject: Re: Worms on fruit leaves |
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Thanks so much for that excellent advice. I'm off out to the garden now to shake, spray and remove. A bit squeamish but it has to be done...
Thanks so much again,
Adrienne
aragwan wrote: | Hi,
I'm new to gardening and new to this site. I need advice. I've just noticed tiny worms (grey with white stripes!) eating all the leaves from my gooseberry and redberry shrubs. The fruit itself appears to be untouched. What to do??
Thanks everyone,
Adrienne |
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Belfast Rank attained: Sessile Oak Tree


Joined: 23 Apr 2009 Posts: 297 Location: County Limerick
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Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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Found sawflies on the gooseberries Friday night and lots of them.
They are mostly very small so far. |
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aragwan Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 11 Jun 2009 Posts: 3
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Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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Hi,
I've spent the last couple of days getting rid of the dreaded sawfly. They were beginning to chew the leaves on a plum tree close to the gooseberry bush.
I tried spraying them with water but the pressure was too weak. I shook as many as I could from the leaves onto a plastic covering on the ground but there were still many clinging on and I eventually used a small tongs to remove them one by one. I think they're all gone now but I'll keep checking ust in case.
Good luck with yours in Belfast. |
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