Re: [Rose-list] Hansa

**"* P* L* <lindsey@mallorn.com>**

> Chris,
> 
> what are stem girdlers?  How can I protect my roses from getting it?  I've
> never heard of this before!  What does it look like?

It's just a generic term lumping together insects that girdle branches 
and stems.  Usually they're rose sawflies and look like miniature 
caterpillars (about 1/8 of an inch long at maturity), but can also
include wasps that leave galls and such.

Usually what they do is begin skeletonizing leaves, then bore into twigs.
This opens up the twig to fungal infections, and sometimes, if the
girdlers encircle a stem, cut off that section's supply of water
and nutrients from the rest of the plant.

I wouldn't worry about them too much on R. rugosa though; although
it can be fatal, these plants are pretty tough and sucker enough that
you would probably never lose the plant.  It's just more unsightly
and could require more pruning of affected areas.

Chris

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