Lily Beetle 2014

[Graham Catlow]

Disposed of a lily beetle this afternoon. The first I have seen for two years. I bought lilies from three different suppliers this year, I wonder if they have arrived in one of the shipments or if they have been lurking for a couple of years.

[johnstephen29]

They could have been larve in the compost and then hatched out. They are early this year.

[Brian Ellis]

They are early this year.

We have actually had them far earlier than this, I find them when I am weeding at the beginning of the year sometimes, although only singles!  My Fritillaria eduardii is normally eaten to shreds before it flowers, but this year has been unscathed

[johnstephen29]

I haven't had any yet, but it won't be long before I do if other years are to go by

[monocotman]

Lots around for me near Cambridge.
They love frit imperilais and martagon lilies at this time of year.
I too find them when weeding around the base of lilies in the early part of the year.
A spray with a bit of an old bottle of imidacloprid works well.
Catching them can be a faff as they drop to the ground when you approach them,
David

[reifuan]

Found two in my sister's garden, nibbling on the emerging martagons. Given the chance, they strip her asiatics, where the martagons only lose a few leaves.  Her sargentiae are usually ignored completely.

[Maggi Young]

Found two in my sister's garden, nibbling on the emerging martagons. Given the chance, they strip her asiatics, where the martagons only lose a few leaves.  Her sargentiae are usually ignored completely.

 I find these differences, and those such as why vine weevils will target one species and not another in Rhododendrons, to be fascinating - sure there is a PHD  thesis in there somewhere- if it has not been done already.

[mark smyth]

Nothing on my Frit imperialis this year - so far. I did spray all my bulbs last week with Provado

[reifuan]

A spray with a bit of an old bottle of imidacloprid works well.

According to numerous studies, a little too well.. Imidacloprid is the devil.
I think I prefer the 'pick and squash method' over something that wipes out all visiting insects indiscriminately

[Roma]

I found my first lily beetle last year.  I only saw one.  I found 4 today - all squashed now

[Mavers]

I have found a few too.

It's tempting to use up old bottles of  insecticide but I prefer to pick them off the plants now I understand the damage caused to beneficial insects.

They are clever little blighters though.............easy to see because of their bright colour & then at the slightest hint of danger they drop off the plants onto their backs so their black underbelly does not show up against the soil. How did they work that out??

They also make a sound....have you heard them?

If they have been lurrrv making on your fritts & lillies it pays to look for their eggs & rub them out........and did I read somewhere the grubs have the dirty habit of covering themselves with their own poop?   

[Ulla Hansson]

I have crushed about a hundred lily beetles the last days, there are very many this year. Just in time for Easter, it was warm weather, it has meant that many have hatched at once.
They are easiest to catch if you have a jar of water to keep below leaves. They will not fall on the ground, but in the can.

[Maggi Young]

Wow, Ulla, so many! They would eat every plant in your garden .

[mark smyth]

I found a dying lily beetle the other day

[Ulla Hansson]

Yes Maggi, they eat a lot. Every morning when the sun has warmed up, I'll go a round and collect them. They can be found throughout the season, but they are most now in spring.
I grow a lot of L. martagon, and it seems like they are at the top of the menu. But they also eat various Fritillaria.
Overall, they're a scourge