Field Identification
Sawfly larvae that can strip currants and gooseberries bare overnight—green caterpillar look-alikes with more legs than a butterfly kid and none of the charm. Adults are wasp-mimic sawflies that lay eggs along leaf veins in spring.
Young larvae cluster; later instars scatter and eat everything but midribs. Frass pellets and naked stems are the giveaway; damage peaks before berries color.
How to Deal With It
Organic Control Methods
Insecticidal soap or spinosad directed into leaf axils when larvae are small—Bt is unreliable on sawflies; neem can suppress early clusters if coverage is thorough.
Small parasitic wasps (e.g., Athalia species and other ichneumonoids) attack larvae; ground beetles and birds clean up dropped individuals—avoid broad-spectrum sprays that nuke these allies.
Scout undersides weekly during leaf burst; shear heavily infested canes after harvest if renovation timing allows; strong plant vigor helps bushes outgrow light attacks.
Rub or blast off egg ribbons and young clusters with gloved hands or sharp water spray before they fan out.
Know your emergence window—sticky traps near bushes catch clueless adults and remind you to look underneath leaves.
Let Nature Handle It
Natural Enemies
- Parasitic Wasps (Ichneumonoidea)
- Ground Beetles
- Birds