What's eating my cinco de mayo rose?

Cinco de Mayo, a floribunda with russet-orange blooms, faces aphids on its prolific new growth and Japanese beetles during US summers. Sawfly larvae defoliate in late spring. Thrips occasionally scar the distinctive bi-coloured petals. Deer may browse in rural areas. Aphids are the most persistent and widespread pest for this rose.

Dense colonies on shoot tips and flower buds cause sticky residue, sooty mould, and distorted growth. Water jet to remove; insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; avoid high-nitrogen feeds that promote soft growth.

Adults skeletonize foliage and chew petals, aggregating heavily on the open blooms in summer. Hand-pick into soapy water at dawn; apply neem oil as deterrent; use milky spore on surrounding lawn.

Petals develop silvery flecking and brown streaks; flowers may fail to open fully. Remove damaged blooms; spray spinosad targeting flowers; introduce Amblyseius predatory mites.

Larvae graze leaflet undersides in late spring, leaving transparent patches that quickly brown. Inspect weekly from May; hand-pick larvae; spray pyrethrin or spinosad for heavy infestations.