While at the nursery, I also found scattered damage in the landscape roses and in the potted roses in the sales area of the nursery.
Midge damage is very diagnostic.
The tiny rose midge larvae feed on the tender new growth and immature buds and what they do not eat, turns black and withers. This type of damage can be confused very easily with foliar burn caused by some pesticides. In most affected areas of the nursery, I saw a complete lack of healthy rose buds and flowers. They emerge from pupae in the soil early in the spring in synchrony with the production of new plant growth and flower buds. There are several overlapping generations per year and a single generation, or life cycle, can be as short as two weeks.