Interestingly, they seem to like some Rosmary bushes more than others. A few years ago we planted a rosemary hedge at the front and chose 4 different varieties to see how they would look. Annoyingly I'm not absolutely sure of the order we planted them in but we think the ones most affected were the Ginger Rosmary. We also had 3 or 4 varieties of prostrate rosemary down the side of the front garden and these haven't been affected at all. Most mysterious..

In the main we pick them off but we did derris dust them before we went away in August. Not sure that helped much but it felt better to be doing something (we thought asking the cat and tortoise sitter to pick them off was a favour too far). Any good ideas?

Aside from their rapacious habits, they're rather pretty with the bronze and eau de nil stripes. They remind me of the triangular quality street chocs.

Interesting that you found that some bushes haven't been affected. I wonder if they have a real preference or whether they're just so busy chomping away on the current ones that they haven't got around to it yet? They can be a bit contrary sometimes as two years ago they were my prime suspects for a defoliated hyssop bush (they will attack others in the mint family sometimes) but ever since they have left them alone and have stuck to the rosemary. I have no idea what cultivar I have in my garden, which was bought several years back.

We are picking and squashing like billyo. Have drafted in the kids.