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What is cutting my rose leaves?

Travis in PHX (9b)

4 years ago

Hi all,

First time with roses in my garden. I have two and they are growing great and even blooming. However, one of them is being munched on by something. It doesn't look like the leaves are being eaten, just cut off. In fact, you can see the leaf chunks beneath the canopy, right where they were bitten off. At first I thought it might be cutter bees but the patterns are not circular and I haven't found evidence of a nest. I also haven't found any evidence of destruction to the other rose half a dozen feet down, or any of the other adjacent plants. It is just this one rose bush. Has been happening for several weeks now.

I treat it with a 3-in-1 liquid mix every six weeks, per the instructions. It has had two doses so far. Does not seem to impact the invader at all.

Any idea what this is, and what I can do to deter it? I'm just grateful it hasn't spread to my other plants.

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Comments (5)

Moses, Pittsburgh, W. PA., zone 5/6, USA
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Travis,

That's a tough dilemma to diagnose properly. A chewing insect, or its larva, seems plausible...some kind of caterpillar. Then slugs are famous for making erratically shaped damage. I have giant slugs that grow to 3.5" long and .75" diameter, but are unable to do much damage to the roses being to heavy to slither up thorny canes, but they decimate low growing perennials and annuals, even eating just emerging new spring growths on Opuntia cacti.

I have seen, with my own four eyes (counting my glasses!), English sparrows, pigeons, and starlings tear leaves and segments of leaves off of many kinds of garden plants. They either eat them, just drop them as if for spite, or fly off to add the leaf to their nests. Sparrows in particular, decimate annual poppy foliage here. Pigeons devour my sedum and hen and chicks. Pigeons will also pick at and eat petunia leaves.

Since the foliage in question on your rose is relatively close to the ground, I suspect giant slugs, or an avian pest at work.

If so, I believe that as your rose increases on size, the damage will diminish and probably discontinue all together.

Moses
Travis in PHX (9b) thanked Moses, Pittsburgh, W. PA., zone 5/6, USA
Travis in PHX (9b)
Original Author
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I've not seen any caterpillars, but we have caught birds out there. We do have pigeons in the area, but I don't know if they've been hanging out in our yard. As frustrating as it is when critters munch on my plants, I can at least understand that all things have to eat. But this just seems like pointless destruction. Grrr....
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Embothrium
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Go out with a flashlight and look for insects at night. Put up wire enclosures to keep birds off.
Travis in PHX (9b) thanked Embothrium
seil zone 6b MI
4 years ago
The birds may be there because they are eating what ever bug is eating your rose.

Rose slugs are very tiny worms that you will find on the undersides of the leaves. During the day they will tend to be more toward the center of the plant where it is shadier and cooler. In the cooler night they travel out and munch away.
Travis in PHX (9b) thanked seil zone 6b MI
Travis in PHX (9b)
Original Author
4 years ago
I went out with a flashlight last night and did not see any critters. I have also inspected during the day again. Still nothing that I can see. Crossing my fingers @Moses, Pittsburgh, W. PA., zone 5/6, USA is correct and the birds will just stop as the rose bush gets bigger. Wire enclosure would be effective, but I'm struggling to see how I could do that and maintain the aesthetic.

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