I have had these caterpillars on my roses several times. Last year they stripped three of my rose bushes (I was away for a month and came back too late to destroy the bugs) However they all came back this year, and I had wonderful displays of blooms on all my roses. I sprayed with Safers Insecticide spray, and also hand picked. The few places they managed to eat I cut off. Next year I am going to spray every couple of weeks so they don't get started.