What's eating my agnes rose?

Agnes Rose attracts the same pests as most shrub roses: aphids cluster on new growth, Japanese beetles skeletonize foliage in summer, and black spot fungus (while not a pest, often co-occurs with stressed plants that attract spider mites). Aphids are the most frequent visitor; inspect buds weekly and act early.

Dense clusters of tiny green or black insects on new shoots and buds; sticky honeydew residue and distorted growth. Blast off with a strong jet of water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; encourage ladybugs and lacewings.

Lacy, skeletonized leaves where the tissue between veins is eaten; flowers chewed to brown tatters in mid-summer. Hand-pick adults into soapy water in early morning; use row cover during peak flight; apply milky spore to lawn soil to target grubs.

Window-pane translucent patches on upper leaf surface where pale-green larvae scrape tissue, later progressing to holes. Hand-pick larvae; spinosad or insecticidal soap spray on leaf undersides; remove affected foliage promptly.