Lacy, Brown Rose Leaves: Rose Slugs or Water Stress?

"Lacy" leaves (skeletonized with tissue eaten between veins) indicate rose slugs (sawfly larvae), not caterpillars. They feed on leaf undersides.

Inspect leaf undersides for small, slimy green larvae.
If found: apply any rose insecticide (spinosad, neem, or pyrethrin).
If no insects: likely water stress (too little), fertilizer burn, or spray burn.

Roses can produce three sets of leaves per season. Once the cause is corrected, new healthy foliage will emerge.

Roses: Diagnosing Abnormal Rose Leaves: Light Green, Narrow, Shriveled Clusters; Black Spot on Roses: Identification, Myths & Effective Control; Rose Sawfly (Rose Slug) Damage: Identification and Control; Diagnosing and Treating Mealybugs or Spider Mites on Indoor Miniature Roses; Troubleshooting Leaf Loss on New Knockout Roses; Rescuing a Miniature Rose from Spider Mites and Black Spot; Gray Specks + Lacy Leaves on Knockouts: Sawfly/Rose Slugs; Diagnosing Yellow Leaves and Powdery Film on Climbing Roses; Heat-Stressed Rose in Colorado: Yellow Leaves, Brown Tips; New Rose Bushes with Sticky Leaves and Browning: Aphid Infestation

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