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IPM Scouting in Woody Landscape Plants

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Slug sawflies - Roseslug, Endelomyia aethiops, Bristly roseslug, Cladius difformus
Pear sawfly, Caliroa cerasi
IPM scouting in woody landscape plants > slug sawflies
The adults of all slug sawflies are small and wasp-like. Adult females lay eggs in the leaf, and larvae skeletonize the leaves after they hatch and begin to feed. Roseslug sawflies feed solely on roses. Leaves are skeletonized along the upper and lower leaf surfaces, leaving only the veins and causing the leaf surfaces to turn brown. Look for larvae beginning in May through the end of June. There is one generation per year. Larvae are bright green with orange head capsules. Mature larvae are 19 mm. The bristly roseslug, (not shown) is covered with bristlelike hairs and chews holes in the leaves as it matures. It has 5 to 6 generations per year. Pearslug sawflies have a wider host range, including pear (not Bradford pear) crabapple, mountain ash, cherry, cotoneaster, amelanchier, and hawthorn. Pearslugs are dark olive green, slimy, and swollen at the head end. They overwinter in the ground as full-grown larvae, pupate and emerge as adults around late May to early June.

Larvae feed in a group for about 3 to 4 weeks and may cause considerable leaf damage.

Management: Little is known about natural enemies. Dislodge larvae with a strong jet of water. Insecticidal soaps may be effective, but be sure to check the label for phytotoxicity to host plants. There are several insecticides labeled for use on slug sawflies; Bt. is not effective on sawflies.

Roseslug larva Roselug injury Pearslug
Roseslug larva Roseslug injury. Pearslug larvae have characteristic window feeding.
Additional information
This information was developed from A Pocket IPM Scouting Guide for Woody Landscape Plants by Diane Brown-Rytlewski. Purchase this in a pocket-sized guide for reference in the orchard from MSU Extension (publication E-2839).
The MSU IPM Program maintains this site as an access point to pest management information at MSU. The IPM Program is administered within the Department of Entomology, fueled by research from the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, delivered to citizens through MSU Extension, and proud to be a part of Project GREEEN.
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Updated 7/11/07