Leafcutter Bee
Q. I am finding circular holes on the leaves of my roses and other plants, what is causing it? And what can I do to stop it?
A. Insecticides are ineffective for preventing leaf cutting. The only known control of leaf injuries is to cover susceptible plants with cheesecloth or other loose netting during periods when leafcutter bees are most active. Numbers of leafcutter bees in an area can be reduced if breeding sites are eliminated, although these might be difficult to detect. Look for rotting boards with sawdust pushed out of excavated tunnels or thick stemmed plants with hollowed openings. To prevent leafcutter bees from tunneling into rose canes, seal exposed pith as canes are pruned. This can be easily achieved by placing a thumb tack, bit of sealing wax or white glue on the opening.
- The Petal – August 2008
A. Insecticides are ineffective for preventing leaf cutting. The only known control of leaf injuries is to cover susceptible plants with cheesecloth or other loose netting during periods when leafcutter bees are most active. Numbers of leafcutter bees in an area can be reduced if breeding sites are eliminated, although these might be difficult to detect. Look for rotting boards with sawdust pushed out of excavated tunnels or thick stemmed plants with hollowed openings. To prevent leafcutter bees from tunneling into rose canes, seal exposed pith as canes are pruned. This can be easily achieved by placing a thumb tack, bit of sealing wax or white glue on the opening.
- The Petal – August 2008
