Among these are the great spruce bark beetle (Dendroctonus micans) and defoliating insects such as the European sawfly (Gilpinia hercyniae ).
Carry out a thorough weekly inspection of gooseberries from May onwards concentrating in the center of the bush for larvae of gooseberry sawfly.
For all exposed sawfly larvae hellebore washes are most fatal, but they must not be used over ripe or ripening fruit, as the hellebore is poisonous.
Sawfly larvae can at once be recognized by the curious positions they assume, and by the number of pro-legs, which exceeds ten.
The larvae, along with some sawfly larvae, share some responsibility for ' leaf roll ' damage to rose bushes.
The QIC includes details of the hosts, description and life cycle, damage, sources and pest status of the European spruce sawfly.