How Do Ants Damage Roses?
WouterWhether you grow roses for their flowers, their fragrance, or their beauty, you need to know how to protect your roses from pests. A number of common insects can harm roses, and they can be hard to control. Some of these insects are naturally occurring and others are pests. You can identify these insects by their markings.
Whiteflies, mealybugs, thrips, and scale insects are all pests on roses. They are tiny insects that can cause significant damage. They typically live under protective coatings that keep them hidden. If these insects are spotted, you can control them by using horticultural oil sprays or insecticidal soaps.
Scales are insects that look like small bumps on the bark of roses. They are hard to spot, and can be difficult to control. If you have a problem with scales on roses, spray horticultural oil or insecticidal soaps on the affected areas. This will suffocate the scales, and will kill them.
Mealybugs feed on the undersides of rose leaves. They are normally pink or gray, and you can identify them by their waxy buildup at their feeding sites. If you see mealybugs, the best treatment is to spray the leaves with a garden hose.
Thrips feed on the petals and leaf tissue of roses. They can cause distorted rose buds and petals. They also lay eggs in plant tissue. The adult thrips suck sap from plants. They are small, soft-bodied insects. They feed on plant juices, and their piercing mouthparts are used to eat plant sap.
