Lycorma delicatula, commonly known as the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), is a new invasive insect that has spread throughout southeastern Pennsylvania since its discovery in Berks County in 2014. SLF presents a significant threat to Pennsylvania agriculture, including the grape, tree-fruit, hardwood and nursery industries, which collectively are worth nearly $18 billion to the state’s economy.

Unfortunately, the numerous insects and related pests that attack roses can make growing them “interesting,” if not outright challenging.

The rose midge, Dasineura rhodophaga (Coquillett, 1900), is an uncommon but damaging pest of roses.

This insect has a global distribution, and is commonly seen on Rosa and Rubus.

Spider mites are tiny 8 legged animals closely related to spiders. Several kinds are important pests of ornamental trees, shrubs and bedding plants. Under favorable conditions spider mites can build up rapidly and seriously threaten plant health.

The common roseslug, Endelomyia aethiops, can be found skeletonizing rose leaves in late spring and early summer.

Thrips, order Thysanoptera, are tiny, slender insects with fringed wings.

This plant pest seems to feed on just about everything in the landscape. Two-spotted spider mites reproduce faster and have more generations per year when the weather is hot, consistently in the upper 80’s. Its host range is vast including annual flowers, ornamental grasses, herbaceous perennials, and woody trees and shrubs.

Japanese beetle adults have metallic green bodies with coppery brown wing covers surrounded with 12 white tufts of hair.

The European red mite (ERM) is the most important mite species attacking tree fruits in North America.