Heeby Jeebies---add me to the bug group.

I have two phenominal William Baffin climbing rose bushes I planted last spring. My arbor has been just dripping in a solid mass of roses the last two months. About a month ago I noticed some little catterpilar chewing holes in the leaves, but from what I read it was not doing any damage to the plant. We have had rain for several days and today it is finally sunny. I went out and saw my roses COVERED in bug infestation #2, false japanese beetles. :suspect: They were devouring the plants. They say they will also go after peas, beans, cucs etc.... I felt horrible doing it but as long as they were isolated on the roses, I hosed them down the roses with Ortho Ecosense (pyrethrins) insecticide before they spread to the vegetables that are just feet away. I feel horrible knowing many bees are going to be killed as well.

I also went ahead since I don't have flowers yet on the veges and sprayed the vege plants. I never ever spray my plants but I am hoping since it is early in the season and there are no veges yet I can get ahead of the beetles by being preventative.

I seriously will get rid of the beautiful rose plants if this is going to be ongoing bug problems. YUCKY!!!!! I can't stand those nasty creatures.

The thing with some bugs is that they have massive years and they have so-so ears. So it may not be an issue. If this is the kind that is a grub in your lawn before becoming a beetle, there are lots of really decent organic ways to treat it. Look at the gardens alive online catalog for ideas.

You might want to keep your roses.

The winemakers of the Champagne region plant a rosebush at the end of every row of vines. They're pretty, yes, but that's not their real purpose. The true purpose of a rosebush at the end of every row of vines is to alert the grower to the presence of pests in the vineyard.

Seems the blighters will always attack the roses before they attack the vines, so the growers get a warning of what's afoot. They treat the roses at the same time as they treat the vines, so the roses continue to be beautiful.

Roses are not only beautiful, but they serve as a very effective sentry and early warning system for the stuff you REALLY don't want to lose.

I didnt' realize that, laFee - that is interesting.

Thanks for the info, LaFee. My older daughter's in-laws own a vineyard and winery in Mendocino County, CA. They also plant a rose bush at the end of each row of grapes, - they call it "Tuscan-style" - but I had no idea it had a purpose other than sheer beauty. I guess the roses act sort of like canaries in the old coal mines.

I've been trying to decide what to plant on an arbor we plan to build over our garden gate. Maybe roses will be just the thing.

The roses are staying for now....BUT.... the beetles are back just two days later. The spray is supposed to last for several weeks. We got some rain one night but I can't imagine that it all washed off. Went out yesterday and saw them so I am out to spray again.