Help Identifying a bug

Theresa
by Theresa
So this weekend, I found a small pile of "sawdust" on the brick near my rose bush. Looking around, I saw that one of the stems above the sawdust had a neat little hole in it. As I was staring at the hole, I saw a little bug pop out to throw out some more of the saw dust. It was drilling a hole through the stem. So I kept cutting the stem until I reached the section where I had the bug trapped. All in all, it had drilled through about 3-4 feet of branch/stem. I opened up the stem to reveal this super destructive bug and this is what I found--see attached picture. It looked like some sort of fly/wasp. It had the coloring/body shape of a wasp but the size of a fly.
Destructive pest drilling hole into my rose bush stems.
What is this destructive pest destroying my rose bush stem?
  6 answers
  • Goldie Goldie on Sep 12, 2016
    You have what is known as a "SAWFLY". They look like tiny bees but they're not. They are very destructive and bore holes in the stems to lay eggs. They also feed off the dead or decaying leaves so pluck those off or they'll view your roses as a one-stop-shop and set up housekeeping thus killing your roses.
    • See 1 previous
    • Theresa Theresa on Sep 12, 2016
      What can I do about them? I didn't notice any other ones. I cut off the stem until I saw solid stem instead of hollowed out. I also sprayed the bug with vinegar, water, dawn detergent combo which seemed to kill/incapacitate it. I didn't want it flying away when I opened up the stem to reveal it. I sprayed the rest of the rose bushes with my vinegar, water, dawn dish liquid solution. I don't know if that was a good idea, but was desperate in case there was an infestation.
  • Cj Jones Cj Jones on Sep 12, 2016
    Goldie gave you the right answer. Destructive little devils.
    • See 3 previous
    • Theresa Theresa on Sep 13, 2016
      Thank You Cj Jones
  • Goldie Goldie on Sep 12, 2016
    They're hard to control without removing the larvae they have deposited into the stems. The easiest way I know is to use a Horticultural soap and spray down the roses real good with it, mostly just the stems. You can either purchase one (too expensive in my opinion) or make your own. The best way is to make up a small batch at a time (larger stored amounts lose their potents) , just what it would take for a one time a day application. Here are the ingredients and instructions; 1 Cup Oil (any kind will do just make sure it's pure) 1 Tablespoon Dawn, or Lemon Joy dishwashing liquid (use only pure, no degreaser or it'll kill real bees and your roses) Mix those two well. Then take ONLY (here more is not better) two teaspoons of the mix and add to 1 Cup of WARM water. Mix well and spray directly on your stems and leaves. That should kill the flies and their larvae. If you have winning roses or precious Hybrids -- test on a small stem first, wait a day, if no change then spray the entire bush(s) down with it. Repeat once every week for a month. That should take care of them. Good luck.
  • Goldie Goldie on Sep 13, 2016
    My pleasure. Hope it works. 😀
  • Gama Gama on Sep 14, 2016
    Looks like a Hornet or a Yellow Jacket
  • Sherry H. Sherry H. on Sep 15, 2016
    It looks like a Hornet, we have them in S. Ga. Watch out they leave a nasty sting. Look for a nest and burn it. Don't get stung !