Roses can be attacked by a wide variety of insect pests. The list of reduced-risk options starts with a steady stream of water that can be used to mechanically remove pests from leaves. Repeated water sprays can actually reduce aphid and mite numbers, while sparing many of the beneficial insects and mites. Many insects such as Japanese beetles may be hand-picked to reduce their damage. Removing and destroying plant parts infested with other insects such as scales, rose midges, and thrips can reduce the number of pests available to attack plants. Removing blooms past their prime can reduce the number of hiding places for thrips and beetles. Finally, a fall clean up can eliminate the overwintering sites for other pests.

Managing pests may require the use of insecticides when other options fail to maintain an acceptable level of plant appearance. Homeowners can choose from pesticides with a wide range of impacts on pests and the beneficial insects that can help control them. Short-lived insecticides such as horticultural oil or insecticidal soap can smother soft-bodied insects like aphids and spider mites but spare more hard-bodied predators. Other insecticides, like azadiractin (Neem) can kill immature insects when they molt and repel some adults trying to feed. Still other materials like the microbial extract spinosad (Fertilome and Bulls-Eye products), may be selective in their ability to kill only a few pests. Successful use of these reduced-risk alternatives is likely to require more frequent applications.

Many longer lasting pesticides are available to homeowners. These include soil-applied materials like imidacloprid (Bayer Advanced Garden Tree and Shrub Insect Control). Others, like disulfoton (several products), last for several weeks against some labeled pests. Foliarapplied materials such as carbaryl (Sevin), cyfluthrin (Bayer Advanced Lawn and Garden Multi-Insect Killer), cyfluthrin+imidacloprid (Bayer Advanced Garden Rose and Flower Insect Killer), esfenvalerate (Ortho Bug-BGone), malathion, and permethrin (several products) give control for a week or more. Acephate (Orthene) when applied to the leaves can move into concealed buds.