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The little critters have started eating my gooseberry bushes, so I have started squishing them. Upto about 4 leaves on each stem have been eaten so it looks like I caught them relatively early. Will have to keep a beady eye out for more.

Chuck some birdfood, ie peanuts/sunflower hearts under your gooseberry bush, and your problem should soon be sorted.

This time of year, when the birds have young to feed, the gooseberry sawfly is a source of natural feed for the chicks.

Trust me - it has worked for me in the past!

valmarg

i had some too
i looked for them and couldnt see any, so resorted to spray.

two weeks ago i saw more attacks, this time i could spot the caterpillars as they were big enough - clever things though, hiding on the edges of the leaf they are eating - so you have to look really carefully.

Multiveg, you want to check other plants too if you have got gooseberry sawfly. They are not quite in the vine weevil "eat anything" class but they will eat  a large variety of plants. ;)

Quote from: valmarg on June 19, 2006, 22:20:44
Chuck some birdfood, ie peanuts/sunflower hearts under your gooseberry bush, and your problem should soon be sorted.

Valmarg, this one has to go in my Little Black Book! :o :)

The birds have ignored the birdseed in the feeder - they preferred the fat balls (must replenish stocks when I go to plot shed) or some stale bread! Might move it under the gooseberries which are laden with fruit. Haven't noticed sawflies on the currants (yet) though in the past, they had been affected.
It was shear luck that I spotted them yesterday - branches started to be stripped of leaves. I also squished some eggs.
Will pop out now for a quick check.

Only ever had a problem with gooseberry sawfly on gooseberry and redcurrant (fingers crossed). I find that vigilance pays off - as soon as I start to see the leaves being eaten, I start squishing. It always seems to work if you get to them early enough.

Can't beat a good squishing I say!
;D

Well, there is something perversely satisfying about squishing sawfly larvae, its a job you can start, finish and see the results of  ;D

I get them on my redcurrants, but it makes me feel queesy squishing after a while.  Can't do it all in one go.  Bless!  :P