I haven't tried this myself but I saw a consumer (?) type show on TV and each programme had some tips for various tasks both indoor and out. One person placed strips of orange peel inside a hand held sprayer, topped up with water and left it to steep. He then just sprayed his plants with the resulting mix. I think I will have a go as I really don't like to use substances which could be harmful to the beneficial insects.
Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
I'm ridiculously new to gardening since buying my first house in November. Not a lot in the garden but its a huge space so to fill it with some colour this summer I bought some lily bulbs they've been growing wonderfully in pots, though in the past week I've noticed some holes in the leaves. On watering tonight, I've discovered a horrendous amount of lily beetles!! At least one per plant if not two and I have 25 lily plants!
I've been on a rampage all evening flicking and squishing them all. (quite satisfying)
Cleared the leaves of any eggs I could see. I've been so proud of my lilies, I don't want to lose them all to a beetle!!
My first ones this year were in the warmish spell in March! I have given up on growing lillies due to this pest - I only have 3 bulbs left, but I have to inspect daily and I reckon I have killed about 20 so far this year - another 2 today. Last year I swore to never buy another lily bulb again, so when these 3 have finished, that will be it. I have no idea how commercial lily growers are coping - I won't spray with pesticide as my near neighbour keeps bees and I have hedgehogs every night.
I have been battling these disgusting things for just about 10 days. I first saw the mating red beetles so I got a zip close baggie and picked them off with tweezers, grabbed the antena got about 18 over few days. Them I saw the glops of shit on the underside and the leaves were ravaged holes everywhere it was disgusting but I knew I had to get that dung off the leaves. ? So today I went out with a can half full of white vinegar and the tweezers and shears I cut the leaf they where attached to and dropped it in the can. I'm some cases I had to cut the entire stem as the plant was eaten bare, smaller ones.
That's it I give up I cut all the lilies today including the brand-new stargazer lilies that I just planted two months ago I will spray with a 10% ammonia solution and in a few days dig up the bulbs and maybe replant in a couple years the Lily Beatles WON!
I have squashed quite a lot of beetles today, I sprayed the lilies with provado ultimate bug killer a month ago but that is obviously wearing off now. The flower buds are there, so I regard that as success. I spent one summer wiping the larvae off onto damp kitchen paper. revolting job.
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Lots of lily beetles today. I have been squashing them. I caught one on my Verbena bonariensis cuttings.
Squished a copulating couple
yesterday - so no babies - hopefully 
I haven't tried this myself but I saw a consumer (?) type show on TV and each programme had some tips for various tasks both indoor and out. One person placed strips of orange peel inside a hand held sprayer, topped up with water and left it to steep. He then just sprayed his plants with the resulting mix. I think I will have a go as I really don't like to use substances which could be harmful to the beneficial insects.
I'm ridiculously new to gardening since buying my first house in November. Not a lot in the garden but its a huge space so to fill it with some colour this summer I bought some lily bulbs
they've been growing wonderfully in pots, though in the past week I've noticed some holes in the leaves. On watering tonight, I've discovered a horrendous amount of lily beetles!! At least one per plant if not two and I have 25 lily plants!
I've been on a rampage all evening flicking and squishing them all. (quite satisfying)
Cleared the leaves of any eggs I could see. I've been so proud of my lilies, I don't want to lose them all to a beetle!!
My first ones this year were in the warmish spell in March!
I have given up on growing lillies due to this pest - I only have 3 bulbs left, but I have to inspect daily and I reckon I have killed about 20 so far this year - another 2 today. Last year I swore to never buy another lily bulb again, so when these 3 have finished, that will be it. I have no idea how commercial lily growers are coping - I won't spray with pesticide as my near neighbour keeps bees and I have hedgehogs every night.
I have been battling these disgusting things for just about 10 days. I first saw the mating red beetles so I got a zip close baggie and picked them off with tweezers, grabbed the antena got about 18 over few days. Them I saw the glops of shit on the underside and the leaves were ravaged holes everywhere it was disgusting but I knew I had to get that dung off the leaves. ? So today I went out with a can half full of white vinegar and the tweezers and shears I cut the leaf they where attached to and dropped it in the can. I'm some cases I had to cut the entire stem as the plant was eaten bare, smaller ones.
I will rip the lillies out this was gross
That's it I give up I cut all the lilies today including the brand-new stargazer lilies that I just planted two months ago I will spray with a 10% ammonia solution and in a few days dig up the bulbs and maybe replant in a couple years the Lily Beatles WON!
I have squashed quite a lot of beetles today, I sprayed the lilies with provado ultimate bug killer a month ago but that is obviously wearing off now. The flower buds are there, so I regard that as success. I spent one summer wiping the larvae off onto damp kitchen paper. revolting job.
Found my first one this year on a madonna lily: