Warning Lily beetles

Silver surfer · April 2023

In Perth, Scotland so early.
2 having "fun"

Blinking Lilioceris lilii...common name Lily beetle.

Be on the look out.

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Fairygirl · April 2023

I spotted, and dispatched, one recently @Silver surfer. The mild winter has kept them happy unfortunately.

We never used to get them, or got them very rarely, but I've had to be vigilant over the last couple of years. I have white ones which they don't seem to be much of a problem on, but the dark red ones seem to be a real favourite.

Lyn · April 2023

Horrible little things, the grubs are worst, they smell awful. And they always seem to be mating.
The Beetles drop off the plant and turn upside down so you have to be careful to catch them in something. Turn the leaves upside down and scrape of any eggs.

Fairygirl · April 2023

I spent quite a while removing every bit of squidgy grub cr*p from the base of leaves on those red ones two years ago, and there was a definite difference last year. Easier when they're in pots though, as they're not so hard to reach.
The joys of gardening eh?

GardenerSuze · April 2023

Iv'e seen them on daffs and snakeshead fritilleries in the past.

Fairygirl · April 2023

I've got enough problems with the r*ddy slugs on the s'head fritillaries and daffs just now ,without those bandits getting in on the act

februarysgirl · April 2023

I gave up on growing lilies because of these little b******s. No matter how many of them and their grubby spawn I stamped into oblivion, they still kept coming.

Lyn · April 2023

Best to check the leaves everyday and remove the eggs. I can’t bear the smell of the grubs, makes me urge. 🤢🤮

Butterfly66 · April 2023

I composted my lilies last year, partly because I realised the lily beetles were the only things I was killing and it seemed unfair 🤣

Winston_The_Gravity_Man · April 2023

We never used to see them in our garden near Wrexham until about a decade ago since when the little horrors have made an unwelcome appearence every summer.

I never realised that when they base-jumped off the leaves they landed on their backs and blended in with the soil ... I honestly thought I just had very poor eyesight !

It's the giants that are always the worst affected but it's curious how some of our lily plants are nibbled ferociously and yet others only a few feet away remain untouched year in year out.

bédé · April 2023

In flagrante, two at a time, is the most satisfying way to get them. They come out on my lilies on a sunny day. Also on my fritillaries. I will look immediately.

My technique is to carefully place my hand to catch them as they drop. Even better, is to give them a wee blast of soap/detergent solution, That stuns them and makes them easier to catch and squash. If you fail to catch them, they will probably die on the ground.,

If they get to grub stage, I peel off a leaf complete with grub and quietly dispose. Keeps my hand free of excrement.

Warning Lily beetles

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