Sawflies are a group of insects suborder (Symphyta) of the Hymenoptera (bees, ants and wasps). There are about 500 species of

Sawfly are small winged insects, related to bees, wasps and ants. Their caterpillar-like larvae feed on the leaves or fruits of certain plants, including apples, gooseberries and Solomen’s seal.

The variety of living organisms (plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms) in a particular environment. Boosting the biodiversity of your garden has many benefits, including supporting wildlife, improving soil health and reducing the likelihood of pest and disease problems.

biodiversity

• Common gooseberry sawfly (Euura ribesii) larvae are up to 20 mm long, pale green, with many black spots, and black heads. The adults are winged insects; females are 5-7 mm long and are yellow with black heads and black markings on the thorax; males are similar but more extensively marked with black, including the upper surface of the abdomen
• Pale spotted gooseberry sawfly (E. leucotrochus) larvae are slightly smaller than those of the common gooseberry sawfly and have pale green heads. It has one generation a year with larvae present in May and June. The adult is similar in appearance to the pale spotted gooseberry sawfly but are usually brown in colour 
• Small gooseberry sawfly (Pristiphora appendiculata) can have up to four generations of pale green larvae from late April onwards. The adult, about 5 mm long, is black with pale yellow legs
• The larvae of some moths may also eat the foliage of gooseberries and currants
• Plants will usually survive complete defoliation, however this may reduce yield

Sawflies are a part of the biodiversity a healthy garden supports.

• Where possible tolerate populations of sawfly, complete defoliation rarely kills the plants although cropping may be affected
• Encourage predators and other natural enemies of sawfly in the garden, such as birds, wasps and ground beetles
• Check plants regularly from April for the presence of larvae to prevent a damaging population developing
• Remove by hand if required and where practical
• A biological control (pathogenic nematode), sold as Fruit and Vegetable Protection, can be watered on to plants with gooseberry sawfly. The nematodes enter the bodies of the sawfly larvae and infect them with a bacterial disease. This nematode is available from some garden centres or via mail order. The nematode should be applied during cool damp weather. Nematodes have the potential to infect non-target animals, they should therefore be used with care and only when there is a specific problem to treat

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Biological control suppliers (pdf document)

• The common gooseberry sawfly is the most frequently found of the gooseberry sawflies. It can have three generations a year, with the larvae active in late April to June, July, and August to September
• The female sawflies lay eggs on the underside of leaves, low down in the centre of the bush, so the young larvae go unnoticed until they have eaten their way upwards and outwards, devouring the leaves as they go
• Defoliated plants are weakened and may produce a poor crop the following year
• When the larvae are fully fed, they go into the soil, where they spin silk cocoons and pupate
• The pale spotted gooseberry sawfly only has one generation a year with larvae present in May and June
• The small gooseberry sawfly has up to four generations a year with larvae present from late April