Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Lily Bugs?

OldcompostOldcompost Posts: 191
in Problem solving
These have appeared on my lily.  A neighbour suggested they may be called lily beetles.  Is she correct? 

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Yes ... those are the larvae of the red Lily Beetle. They have an attractive habit of covering themselves with their poo.   They’re often on the underside of the leaves so I get a tissue and wipe them off. 

    The beetles are bright red and have no predators in the UK ... I sneak up on them and squidge them between thumb and fingernail 😡 but they’re crafty litter be$$ars and if they notice that you’re after them they’re drop to the ground and turn upside down so that their red colouring can’t be seen 🤬

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/Profile?pid=553 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They really are unpleasant. The more of those larvae you can remove and squish, the better, otherwise you'll have loads of adults ready to infest again.
    We never used to have much of a problem with them here, but last year I spent ages removing them. Not so bad this year because I did that, and only a few adults which I got  earlier in the season. One stand of them was more affected than others, but it's a cse of being vigilant. 
    I hold one hand underneath Dove, knock them into it, and then use the old 'drop and squish' technique   :D
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • OldcompostOldcompost Posts: 191
    Thank you both.
  • JacquimcmahonJacquimcmahon Posts: 1,039
    Squish, squish, squish.....
    Marne la vallée, basically just outside Paris 🇫🇷, but definitely Scottish at heart.
  • HazybHazyb Posts: 336
    I cannot squish by hand. I don’t even like touching creepy crawlies.

    I will however stamp on them or whack them with something but it makes me shudder. Ughhhhh. 
  • JacquimcmahonJacquimcmahon Posts: 1,039
    Same here have to knock them onto the concrete then squish under foot.
    Marne la vallée, basically just outside Paris 🇫🇷, but definitely Scottish at heart.
  • OldcompostOldcompost Posts: 191
    It's squish then.  Unlike slug pellets which are ineffective - I just can't seem to hit them throwing them from about 4 ft away. 
  • HelixHelix Posts: 631
    Oh yuck, and I’m eating my breakfast....Thanks for that poo covered larva image!
Sign In or Register to comment.