Question
Dear Lynnette:
Yesterday, I noticed that the leaves of my William Baffin rose had all kinds of holes in them. Upon closer examination, I found little green (somewhat translucent) caterpillar-like creatures chewing away on the undersides of the leaves. They are about 1/2" long, light green, with a very light brown "head" section. Some were just clinging to the leave in a curled up position. They seem to be concentrated toward the bottom of the plant. However, they are also migrating up the plant. I also noticed some on a nearby shrub rose. Many of the leaves at the bottom of the bush are completely gone. I've had these roses for a few years, and I have never noticed anything like this before. We did have a very cold, wet, late spring. We live in north central Wisconsin. We usually consider ourselves to be zone 3. We are sort of on the borderline of zones 3 and 4.

Also, I think I found spider mites on another shrub rose. Those things are like tiny "grains" in the color green. So, those are mites, right? In one of my gardening books, it mentioned a mixture of water and rubbing alcohol. Would that be okay to use on my roses?

Back to those caterpillars - I haven't noticed them on any other perennials -- just the roses - especially the Wm. Baffin. It's practically a skeleton now, as I pruned off those eaten leaves. I also handpicked and killed as many as I could find. Also, I couldn't really see any eggs. Perhaps they are nearer to the soil.

Help.  Thank you.
Ann

Answer
They sound like the sawfly larvae and if they are you could try spraying them with horticultural oil. To really get rid of the caterpillars, any rose insecticide will do the job. When we get weird springs, or a mild winter, then all sorts of insects and bugs turn up as their eggs haven't been killed during the winter and their numbers are increased. You are right, their eggs are probably at the base of the rose bush. Just make sure you spray all around the bush to get them.