Types of rose pests

Various pests can attack roses, causing reduced quality or damage to the plant. Proper identification and management of these pests is essential to maintaining the health of the flowers. Below are some of the most common rose pests and their control strategies:

1. Aphids

• Characteristics: Aphids are tiny insects that settle on the stems, leaves, and buds of roses and feed on the plant's sap.
• Symptoms: Yellowing of leaves, deformed buds, and reduced flowering.
• Control: Use insecticidal soap, neem oil, or wash the plant with lukewarm water.

2. Spider mites

• Characteristics: Very small mites that are active on the underside of leaves and create thin webs.
• Symptoms: Yellowing or white spots on the leaves and reduced plant vigor.
• Control: Increase humidity, use regular watering or specific mite pesticides.

3. Japanese Beetle

• Characteristics: Large, shiny insects that feed on rose flowers and leaves.
• Symptoms: Holes in leaves and damage to petals.
• Control: Hand collection, use of traps or appropriate insecticides.

4. Whitefly

• Characteristics: Small insects with white wings that feed on leaf sap.
• Symptoms: Yellowing of leaves and production of a sticky substance (honeydew) on the surface of the leaves.
• Control: Use sticky yellow cards, organic insecticides or increase ventilation.

5. Leafworm

• Characteristics: Moth larvae that eat leaves and sometimes buds.
• Symptoms: Chewed leaves and irregular holes.
• Control: Use collective hand-washing to remove the worms or specific pesticides.

6. Thrips

• Characteristics: Small, slender insects that feed on buds and petals.
• Symptoms: Bud deformity and pale petals.
• Control: Use blue sticky traps and systemic insecticides.

7. Wood-eating pest (stem-eating)

• Characteristics: Wood-eating insect larvae that create tunnels inside the rose stem.
• Symptoms: Wilting of the stem and drying of the upper parts of the plant.
• Control: Cutting off infected parts and using plant protection products.

General prevention measures:

• Maintaining garden hygiene: Regularly collect dry or infected leaves and branches.
• Proper irrigation: Avoid overwatering and waterlogging the leaves.
• Strengthening the plant: Use appropriate fertilizers and regular pruning to strengthen the plant against pests.
• Using companion plants: Planting plants such as lavender or mint near roses can repel some pests.