Author Topic: Sawfly on birch and gooseberries (Read 3297 times)

ellied · « **on:** July 07, 2013, 08:40:01 am »

I had a couple of years where sawfly hit my gooseberry bushes, they're fine this year but the same two years plus this year they've wrecked my birch tree's leaves almost to the wood overnight. I sprayed the blighters and they're gone but I am wondering why they hit it and not the gooseberries this time, or whether there is some other factor like eggs overwintering in the roots that I need to treat?

Is it a good idea to spray the gooseberries in case they're on the way or wait til I see them, by which time it's too late they're so fast

PS it's the caterpillars I mean, not the flies themselves, wee green things all over the place

northfifeduckling · « **Reply #1 on:** July 16, 2013, 05:01:42 pm »

Ellie, I'm not sure if that's the same fly - as far as I know (I might be wrong though!) gooseberry sawfly does go for currants, too. Never heard of birch attacks.

doganjo · « **Reply #2 on:** July 16, 2013, 06:17:52 pm »

The sawfly overwinters in the top 2 inches of soil under the gooseberry and currant bushes so if you don't have any on those you got rid of them last year by spraying. But keep an eye as there may be the odd one or two around. If I see any eaten leaves I get out the sprayer with fairy liquid and water, loosens the caterpillars grip (surface tension on the leaves changes) and they fall off. They don't seem able to climb back up. I have some berry drop but I've mainly managed to save most of this year's crop.. You can remove the soil once the berries and leaves are off and replace it so the sawfly can't lay theri eggs in the bush again. Not sure what to do with the soil though - don't think I'd compost it. Maybes flood it with something to kill them then compost it or leave for next year - anybody know?

Like Kerstin I think the birch is a different beastie.