What is a rose midge?
Rose midge is an insect that can injure roses as new growth occurs. The larvae of this insect is a maggot, and its feeding can affect both flower buds and foliage. Affected flower buds darken in color, shrivel and droop. Leaf damage appears as incomplete expansion, dark discoloration, wilting and even death. However, severe bud damage can occur with little or no leaf damage. One way to manage this insect is to remove affected buds since they can harbor midge maggots. Gardeners can also treat with a labeled insecticide as soon as affected buds are noticed. Several generations of this insect can occur in a season, so continue to watch for signs of their damage and prune out affected buds and/or reapply insecticide as needed.
