Rose Eating Bugs?

Question

Last night before dinner I went outside to check my roses. I looked inside one and found an big ugly bug inside. I didn't think it was alive because it wasn't moving. I came out again an hour later and it was gone. It chewed a huge hole in the peddles of the rose. I have a picture. Can someone tell me what kind of bug it is and how to get rid of them? http://darkangel836.deviantart.com/art/Bugs-Love-my-Roses-90563819

Answer 1

I'm not up on roses, but I would think the dish soap spray for the squash bugs would be worth a try.

Answer 2

There's so many different type of bugs that can chew on your rose petals.  It's hard to see the bug very clearly, so here's a site that might help identify it:

Photos & info on different types of bugs:

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/true_bugs_3....

Because it looks like it has long antenne, it could be thrips or earwigs, which can be gotten rid of by spraying them directly with insecticidal soap which disrupts these soft-bodied insects’ cell membranes, and kills the pests by dehydration. To make your own insecticidal soap, this site recommends using a  1 to 2 tablespoons of a pure liquid soap (not detergent) to 1 quart water

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/homemad...

These other insecticidal soap mixtures use a smaller soap to water ratio & one adds a little cooking oil to help it cling better. Apply when it's not sunny.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/terms/go/4...

Mother Earth News recommends making a spray from Fels-Naptha soap:

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-Ho...

Photos:Thrips

http://www.scotts.ca/media/media/images/...

http://www.planetnatural.com/site/xdpy/k...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shane58/242...

Earwigs & other rose pests:

http://www.growquest.com/rose_major_pest...

Rose Weevils, known as Curculios, make distinct small holes in the petals. Adult weevils drop readily from plants and feign death when disturbed. In order to take advantage of this behavior, collect the adult weevils with a wide mouth container half full of soapy water. Touch the plant parts where the weevils are feeding and they readily fall down into the soapy water and drown.

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/im...

Thise sites have info on these & other rose pests & how to get rid of them:

http://www.rose-roses.com/problems/badin...

http://www.mainerosesociety.com/japaness...

Forums:

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load...

http://www.helpfulgardener.com/phpBB2/vi...

P.S.The photo did not show it to be metalic looking, so I assumed it wasn't a Japanese Beetle.

Good luck!!!  Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I cannot see the bug very well, but it looks like a Japanese beetle. They love rose flowers and leaves, too, and eat many other garden plants. They are a nasty invasive species and their grubs live in lawns, so if you have a lot of mowed grass around, that is where they are breeding.

Unless you have thousands of them, the best way to get rid of them is hand picking. They move pretty slow, but it is best to do this first thing in the morning when it is cooler. Shake the bloom over a jelly jar half full of water with a thin layer of gas on top. The beetle drops in and drowns.

DO NOT put up a Japanese beetle trap. You may catch a lot of beetles but you will attract many more to your yard.

Answer 4

It looks like a Japanese beetle to me. Did you know that they sell a plant food- a type of pellet food- that has pesticides built into it. Very effective. Tried it one year but you have to add more every 5 or 6 weeks throughout the growing season. But it gives you great flowers for your rose vase all summer and into the early fall. Sorry I don't recall the name but they sell it in garden centers in the rose food section. Look for the one with this pesticide additive. Its a few bucks more but it makes growing roses worry free just about!

Answer 5

It's hard to tell what the bug is, but,  I'll give you a possible solution.

Fels Naptha Soap open the link below for a variety of uses.

I know it's been around for OVER 70 years because I'm 70 and my grandma used it.

NOTE: scroll down to read the rest of the message below

[[***IMPORTANT***** In recent years soap manufacturers have added degreasers and antibacterial ingredients to their products. These are VERY harmful to your plants and most likely will burn or kill them.***]]

The link also gives a list of other uses.

http://www.soapsgonebuy.com/ProductDetai...

************SOME OF THE USES**************************

Spray aphids with 3 tablespoons grated Fels Naptha Soap dissolved in 1 gallon of hot water. Mix well and let cool. Spray as needed.

........Insect Control:...................................

.......For Black-spot fungus on roses......................................

All of the uses give mixing directions................

I bought mine at an ACE hardware no shipping charges and cheaper....some grocery stores still carry it.

PS I use it on my flowers & roses and Veggie garden.