Gooseberry Sawfly Caterpillar

I spotted a new caterpillar on our gooseberry bush this week and remembered to take some photos to help identify it. I always check a new species before taking any action and usually it's some non-harmful moth larvae.

However, these small caterpillars turned out to be gooseberry sawfly larvae. They feast on the foliage of gooseberry, red and white currant bushes. There are three types of sawfly and these are the larvae of the common gooseberry sawfly.

In sufficient numbers they can cause severe damage, but the odd few aren't going to hurt - and will provide a meal for the resident blackbirds, so for now I will just monitor them and pick them off if they seem to be getting too numerous.

Submitted by Jane, plot 9