What's eating my roseraie de l'hay rose?

Roseraie de l'Hay is a dense, disease-resistant rugosa with deeply fragrant crimson blooms. Aphids and Japanese beetles (US) are the main pests; its thick, wrinkled foliage shrugs off most fungal diseases. Sawfly larvae can appear in patches. Deer largely avoid rugosa thorns, though hungry animals will browse in hard winters.

Soft clusters on extending shoots and bud stalks; moderate infestations are common in spring but rarely threaten plant health. Encourage predators; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray on problem shoots; repeat weekly until clear.

Flowers and leaves consumed, leaving only veins; beetle groups cluster on blooms in July–August, particularly on fragrant roses. Hand-pick in the morning; neem oil as a repellent; treat surrounding lawn for grubs with milky spore in autumn.

Localised skeletonised patches on the rugose leaves; larvae are pale green, blending into the puckered leaf texture. Regular inspection of undersides; hand-remove or treat with spinosad if multiple shoots are affected.

Bark gnawing at the base of young canes in winter or early spring when other food is scarce. Fine wire mesh or spiral guards around stem bases; Roseraie de l'Hay's dense suckering habit means it recovers quickly from limited damage.