Would someone be able to identify this caterpillar that has taken over the job of disfiguring my Chrysler Imperial rose blossoms now that the aphids have disappeared?




Thank you.

The caterpillar is about 1.5 cm long, and here is is in action:

Looks like the Curled rose sawfly larva, something which is not a butterfly or a moth.

PaleoTemp, Thank you for suggesting Curled rose sawfly larva. I read that it attacks the leaves but I did not find any information about it attacking the flower petals. The leaves of my rose have not been attacked.

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/...

https://www.witherspoonrose.co...

https://www.gardeningknowhow.c...

csandt said:PaleoTemp, Thank you for suggesting Curled rose sawfly larva. I read that it attacks the leaves but I did not find any information about it attacking the flower petals. The leaves of my rose have not been attacked.

This one really look like a Curled rose sawfly larva, definitely not looking like a tobacco budworm which one would expect to eat the petal and buds.
You can find images with them eating the petals also even if it is not as common.
I mean this larva needs to feed on something, it cannot just hang around the rose without feeding itself.

You can see in the linked photos below eating petals.

https://smhttp-ssl-60515.nexce...

https://www.projectnoah.org/sp...

Looks like a sawfly. Caterpillars have three or four of those legs in the middle (sorry I don't know what to call them) and a sawfly has them all the way down the body. It is not a caterpillar and therefore (as stated above) BT won't work on them but Neem will. If you choose to use Neem, don't spray when the temps are over 80 F as it will burn your plants. Hate those little buggers and the damage they cause.

Yes, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki should not really work on sawfly larvae.

Spinosad based insecticides should work, additionally should work against thrips.