Gooseberry plants being eaten

[sand]

My gooseberry plants seemed to be doing very well this year, only two years since planting, little fruits all over.  Then today I've found loads of tiny green caterpillars munching their way through the leaves and clumps of aphids at the tips.

I've picked off as many of the green monsters as I can but I'm wondering if that is enough.  Should I spray or something, don't really want to because of the developing fruit.  Will they survive the onslaught?

Sand

[sand]

[jennym]

Probably gooseberry sawfly, best to pick them off and squish them as you go. If you keep at it you will reduce the numbers and eventually almost get rid of them. If you loeave them on, thye will eat all the leaves and reduce the vigour of the plant. You could use a product containing fatty acids and pyrethrins, like Trounce if you do decide to spray.

[Slug_killer]

Yep, sounds like Gooseberry sawfly, leaf green with black spots, and a shiny black head.
Pick 'em off today, tomorrow and the next day.

These hungry monsters can devour a whole bush in a couple of days.

Just keep picking them off everyday, until one day you can't find any.
Bare stems are a good sign that they're still about.

Just leaving one, will allowing it to grow, pupate and lay another clutch of eggs to start the cycle again. This can happen up to four times a year !

[chrispea27]

I also found Derris Dust was effective at the base of the bush where they congregate.
Combined with squishing I got rid!

[sand]

ok sounds like we have the culprit.

I've been squishing like crazy, no mean feat for me as I really don't like handling creepy crawlies but I'm overcoming it for the sake of the goosegogs.

It's my biggest failing as a gardener, which means I don't much like the compost heap much either  :-[