Berberis and sawfly

It is my intension to plant a hedge using evergreen Berberis shrubs
unfortunately I already have a Purple Berberis bush that has become
infested with the Saw fly. Is anyone able to advise me: are Evergreen Berberis resistant to this pest; what do I need to do prior to planting the evergreen berberis aand how can I get rid of sawfly organicaly?

Re: Berberis and sawfly

Reply from Kathy C

Hi, William,
As of right now, there is no record of Berberis sawfly attacking evergreen members of the genus. You never know, though, since this is a relatively new pest to Britain (introduced from Europe, first recorded here in the late 1990s). Just make sure you inspect the new plants carefully before planting and remove any sawfly larvae you might see. Inspect every month or so for the first growing season to spot any pests. Though insecticides seem to get rid of them best, light infestations can be controlled by removing the pests and attacked leaves.
All the best,
Kathy C