Gooseberry sawfly: how to spot, prevent and treat it pest
How do you spot gooseberry sawfly?
Green larvae with black dots, caterpillar-like in appearance, strip the bush to bare branches in a few days. They appear first in the middle of the bush, low down, and only then spread outwards, which is why a gardener often notices them when the foliage is almost gone. A bush stripped of leaves survives, but bears less the following year.
How do you prevent gooseberry sawfly?
From April to September keep checking the middle of the bush, above all the underside of the leaves low down on the inside. An open, airy shape makes both the checking and the picking easier. Leave the birds and the other natural enemies in the garden to their work.
What works against gooseberry sawfly?
Pick the larvae off by hand as soon as you find them. On a single bush this is the quickest measure, and if you find them early it is enough.
Which plants get gooseberry sawfly? 2
Berries 2
Sources: Royal Horticultural Society
Checked on 18 August 2026.