Gooseberry Sawfly

[delboy]

My poor gooseberries were stripped to zilch this year.

Is there anything pre-emptive that can be done?

What is effective in killing the little darlings?

Do the larvae or whatever overwinter in the ground?

Have used Search, but no solid answers popped out at me.

Ta muchly

[delboy]

[Robert_Brenchley]

When I had them, I just went round knocking the buggers off. After a few days, they were all gone.

[Grandma]

This used to happen to my two bushes - then I read somewhere that overcrowded bushes encouraged this pest. I thinned the branches drastically - (in fact I turned them from dense bushes to open 'fan-trained' shapes on wires) - and the problem disappeared. I just try to keep the framework open to the light and air and haven't had any trouble since. Best of luck.  :)

[delboy]

Robert, By knock em off I guess you mean physically batter with broom handle or the like.. or do you mean stamp on/smash/murder with extreme prejudice?

Grandma, I will do what you suggest and thin out the branches.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I just mean knock them off. No need to go round slaughtering them yourself; the wildlife will do that for you.