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Red lily beetle on the solomon seal

PoppypussPoppypuss Posts: 143
in Problem solving
I'm gutted - 2 years ago I got rid of my lilies apart from a small clump of fritilaries so I could break the life cycle of this red menace, or so I thought. Today I've discovered them all over a clump of solomon seal in an entirely different part of the garden to the fritillaries. I must have squashed about 10 and at least 2 pairs getting jiggy. I dont want to use pesticides as we have a lot of wildlife in the garden, I just wish something would eat these beetles as I dont really like squashing them either. As anyone else found them on other plants apart from lilies and what do you do to get rid of them? Cheers
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Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I snip them with pointy scissors.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Poppypuss I have seen them on Daffodils. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    I'm not aware of any natural predators. They really are destructive.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    The red devils!!
  • PoppypussPoppypuss Posts: 143
    Oh well, I think I'm resigning myself to going out every evening with the scissors. I got rid of the lilies as it felt like a loosing battle but if the little red b******s just move on to other plants I'll have nothing left! Wonder how many thousands of years it would take for our local birds to discover they may be really tasty, foreign food take away yum yum. 
  • IlikeplantsIlikeplants Posts: 894
    They’re so good at hiding between the lily leaves
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I know some one who lets them drop and catches them in a yellow plastic butter tub.
    Just to add to the problem,  the saw fly that attacks only Polygonatum's will also be about soon. More plastic tubs at the ready!
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • SueAtooSueAtoo Posts: 380
    I poke them with something pointy to drop into a pot held beneath them - then I tip them out and step on them.
    East Dorset, new (to me) rather neglected garden.
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Our Solomon seal seemed to disappear 2 years ago and then they came back. Thankfully without sawfly. And now we need to keep a look out for the dreaded beetle!!
    We have some great plants at the moment and will keep enjoying them whilst we can.
  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    I kill them with my bare hands.
    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
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