The beetles begin emerging on sunny days in late March and April when they seek out the foliage of host plants. Eggs are laid in small batches on the underside of leaves during April to mid-summer. The eggs hatch and the larvae feed on the foliage. When fully fed, the larvae go into the soil to pupate. The next generation of adult beetles emerges from mid-summer onwards. These beetles add to the feeding damage but there is only one generation a year and these late summer adults will not mate and lay eggs until the following year.
Iv been growing lilies for years in South Shields (near Newcastle) and never had these till last year, now I have loads and cant pick them off as too squeamish. Don't know which ones im growing but I do have a tree lily and others in another pot and they seem to keep away from them (well at the minute). Any ideas what I can spray them with to get rid of them please. Thanks
A previous poster on here had suggested making this mixture up in a spray rather than resorting to chemical pesticides as the only one that seems to work on the Lily beetle is the same one that is really bad for bees!!
"I made a mixture of olive oil ( 150 ml ) washing up liquid ( 300 ml ) plus about 500ml of water. Shake the mixture and spray the beetles. I tried this yesterday and it certainly zapped the beetles."
When I pick them off the plants I just drop them into some soapy water and they seem to drown really quickly!
They've been here (Liverpool) for about 3- 4 weeks, ever since the lily foliage appeared. They're now about 8" high (the lilies, not the beetles, I'm glad to say) and covered in holes.
(Q: can something be covered in holes? Surely the holes uncover whatever's underneath. But I digress.)
As soon as I saw the holes I started searching and have squashed about a dozen beetles (on about five shoots), including some that were mating. Unfortunately I'm only there twice a week, but will have a good go at them on Friday. Maybe I should try garlic spray?
Yep, they're the eggs! They tend to try to lay them under the lower leaves along the crease on the underside of Lily leaves. Just out of interest where were the eggs on the fritillary?
Thanks for the help and im going to try that spray mix tomorrow and keep my fingers crossed, hope they keep away from my tree lily again this year as I dont want to lose that as its been growing for about 6 years
Posts
The beetles begin emerging on sunny days in late March and April when they seek out the foliage of host plants. Eggs are laid in small batches on the underside of leaves during April to mid-summer. The eggs hatch and the larvae feed on the foliage. When fully fed, the larvae go into the soil to pupate. The next generation of adult beetles emerges from mid-summer onwards. These beetles add to the feeding damage but there is only one generation a year and these late summer adults will not mate and lay eggs until the following year.
Iv been growing lilies for years in South Shields (near Newcastle) and never had these till last year, now I have loads and cant pick them off as too squeamish. Don't know which ones im growing but I do have a tree lily and others in another pot and they seem to keep away from them (well at the minute). Any ideas what I can spray them with to get rid of them please. Thanks
S.Yorks and the little devils have been here approx' 5 weeks, even before lilies appeared.
Grow lilies in pots and have done for 15 years. 2009 was the first time beetles appeared.
I am also seeing them on other plants. One on a tulip leaf a few days ago, no where near the lilies.
A previous poster on here had suggested making this mixture up in a spray rather than resorting to chemical pesticides as the only one that seems to work on the Lily beetle is the same one that is really bad for bees!!
"I made a mixture of olive oil ( 150 ml ) washing up liquid ( 300 ml ) plus about 500ml of water. Shake the mixture and spray the beetles. I tried this yesterday and it certainly zapped the beetles."
When I pick them off the plants I just drop them into some soapy water and they seem to drown really quickly!
Hope this helps. ????
Still no beetles. I can't understand it, I had them last year but nothing yet.
I wonder if there is any chance they will miss me out?
They've been here (Liverpool) for about 3- 4 weeks, ever since the lily foliage appeared. They're now about 8" high (the lilies, not the beetles, I'm glad to say) and covered in holes.
(Q: can something be covered in holes? Surely the holes uncover whatever's underneath. But I digress.)
As soon as I saw the holes I started searching and have squashed about a dozen beetles (on about five shoots), including some that were mating. Unfortunately I'm only there twice a week, but will have a good go at them on Friday. Maybe I should try garlic spray?
Killed 7 (5 on one fritillary) this evening near Malton, North Yorkshire, plus removed what I took to be eggs, about 1mm long and bright orange/red.
Yep, they're the eggs! They tend to try to lay them under the lower leaves along the crease on the underside of Lily leaves. Just out of interest where were the eggs on the fritillary?
Not seen any eggs yet on the fritillary but two more beetles this evening.
Thanks for the help and im going to try that spray mix tomorrow and keep my fingers crossed, hope they keep away from my tree lily again this year as I dont want to lose that as its been growing for about 6 years