what pest is this? in the Pests and Diseases forum

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Catmint20906

May 17, 2015 10:06 AM CST

Thread OP

Name: Catmint/Robin
PNW WA half hour south of Olym (Zone 8a)

Draining my roses of color and causing them to drop petals early

"One of the pleasures of being a gardener comes from the enjoyment you get looking at other people's yards”
― Thalassa Cruso

| @Catmint20906 | Post #855436 (1)

porkpal

May 17, 2015 1:06 PM CST

Name: Porkpal
Richmond, TX (Zone 9a)

I have no idea, nor, apparently, does anyone else. Can you add details?

Porkpal

| @porkpal | Post #855559 (2)

Catmint20906

May 17, 2015 1:14 PM CST

Thread OP

Name: Catmint/Robin
PNW WA half hour south of Olym (Zone 8a)

thanks, Porkpal. They are little bugs. They don't seem to fly. They sit in the center of the rose. The blooms are rather pale and fall off quickly. Please let me know if there's other specific info I can provide.

"One of the pleasures of being a gardener comes from the enjoyment you get looking at other people's yards”
― Thalassa Cruso

| @Catmint20906 | Post #855574 (3)

porkpal

May 17, 2015 1:22 PM CST

Name: Porkpal
Richmond, TX (Zone 9a)

Perhaps those characteristics will ring a bell with someone; I am still clueless. I have never seen bugs like yours on any of my roses.

Porkpal

| @porkpal | Post #855584 (4)

lovemyhouse

May 17, 2015 1:32 PM CST

Name: Debra
Garland, TX (NE Dallas suburb) (Zone 8a)
Rescue dogs: Angels with paws needi

I have some that at least look like those on some Roses and had them on Peonies. Be interested to hear opinions. Maybe Janet will chime in and has an idea.

It’s okay to not know all the answers.

| @lovemyhouse | Post #855596 (5)

Catmint20906

May 17, 2015 6:38 PM CST

Thread OP

Name: Catmint/Robin
PNW WA half hour south of Olym (Zone 8a)

Well leave it to me to have a bizarre bug no one recognizes!

"One of the pleasures of being a gardener comes from the enjoyment you get looking at other people's yards”
― Thalassa Cruso

| @Catmint20906 | Post #855819 (6)

lovemyhouse

May 17, 2015 6:45 PM CST

Name: Debra
Garland, TX (NE Dallas suburb) (Zone 8a)
Rescue dogs: Angels with paws needi

@JRsbugs

Janet, any ideas?

It’s okay to not know all the answers.

| @lovemyhouse | Post #855830 (7)

chelle

May 17, 2015 7:11 PM CST

Name: Michele Roth
N.E. Indiana - Zone 5b, and F (Zone 9b)
I'm always on my way out the door..

My poor eyes can't really see them in your picture. Do they have long snouts by any chance? Weevils cause plenty of havoc in our roses here, and the symptoms you've given sound similar.

Cottage Gardening

Newest Interest: Rock Gardens

| @chelle | Post #855853 (8)

Catmint20906

May 18, 2015 4:03 AM CST

Thread OP

Name: Catmint/Robin
PNW WA half hour south of Olym (Zone 8a)

Thanks Chelle! Yes I think they are some kind of weevil.

"One of the pleasures of being a gardener comes from the enjoyment you get looking at other people's yards”
― Thalassa Cruso

| @Catmint20906 | Post #855997 (9)

chelle

May 18, 2015 4:15 AM CST

Name: Michele Roth
N.E. Indiana - Zone 5b, and F (Zone 9b)
I'm always on my way out the door..

Sorry to hear that.

I haven't found a way to control them (organically and safely), so I can't even offer any help in that area. I tried picking them off one year, but ended up doing just as much damage to the blooms as the bugs do.

Cottage Gardening

Newest Interest: Rock Gardens

| @chelle | Post #856001 (10)

JRsbugs

May 18, 2015 4:36 AM CST

Name: Janet Super Sleuth
Near Lincoln UK

It's impossible to say for sure, but from the clubbed tips on the antennae, the small size and the fact they are eating pollen suggests pollen beetles. Harmless.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/...

BugLife

| @JRsbugs | Post #856006 (11)

Catmint20906

May 18, 2015 4:44 AM CST

Thread OP

Name: Catmint/Robin
PNW WA half hour south of Olym (Zone 8a)

Thanks Janet. It does look like them! And the flowers don't have raggedy tears like the photos of weevil damage. It could be they are dropping petals due to the unseasonably hot weather we've had.