Caterpillars on Gooseberries

[melliff]

My gooseberry bushes were suddenly attacked by small green caterpillars yesterday and most of the new branches on one of the bushes were stripped almost bare of leaves. I have sprayed with derris which seems to have stopped the little blighters. Will the stripped branches bear fruit next year?

Martin.

[Jenny Green]

Yes they should be okay. This sounds like gooseberry sawfly caterpillars. The branches will probably sprout new leaves before the year is out.

[Allan]

It is usually recommended that a very frequent watch is kept on the bushes and when the caterpillars appear they are hand-picked (the caterpillars). I have never been in time.
Allan