Question
Hello,
I only seem to havethis problem with one bush out of 25. Last year and this year the buds evolve from being ok to the bloom getting terribly deformed with holes in them. These holes atre like concentric circles getting smaller as they get through more petals (coneshape)I don't have japanese beetles (yet)they ultimately open but have the outermost petals deformed. I live in Grand Rapids Michigan. Can you offer some other theories?
Thanks so much for this offer of help!
Doug

Answer
Some basic detective rose theories. If the buds are damaged and there is a small hole at the base of the buds it is a rose midge. If the flower is damaged but it opened a little, then that also narrows it down to  
type of holes, shot hole weevils, tiny brown spots thrips and ragged edges caterpillars. Flowers with deep holes have to be either a beetle or an earwig, depending on where you garden and this partially destroys the flower. No matter what is doing the damage, any rose insecticide will solve the problem. If you like you can spray with horticultural oil which will suffocate any insects and see if that stops the damage. The reason you get this problem with the same rose is that the insect is laying it's eggs at the base of the rose bush. If you spray, then make sure you also spray all around the base of the rose too. When the eggs hatch they will head right back up the same rose bush.