Gooseberry pest

[carolann]

A friend came down tonight with some tiny catapillers which are attacking her gooseberries bushes and nothing else, she has bought 2 new ones this year and thrown 3 away as she thought they may be inside the bark or something, they are only about half an inch in length and have 6 legs at the front but none anywhere else, she has been dusting with Derris to keep them at bay but she has to do it almost every day with the rain I have got a pic but its on OH's camera I shall post it later. They attack the leaves and make them look like lace after that they attack the rest of the leaf, she said that they only come on when there is tiny fruit forming, they can strip a bush overnight. I have given her some systemic spray to try but she was wondering if anyone on here could identify them for her, thanks in advance.

[Tig]

It will most probably be gooseberry sawfly Carolann. I gave up growing goosegogs because they stripped them clean two years on the trot! hand picking off is the best method but because they are such prickly bushes it is a nightmare ..

here is the RHS advice page

apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=517

x Tig

[carolann]

Yep Tig thats the one and I didnt even have to upload the pics thanks ever so much.

[Barbara]

Yes I got rid of my bush as well, once sawfly attack a bush they NEVER leave it alone, I even tried moving it to another part of the garden but the little bggrs still found it.