Yes they are easier to catch then - and don't they do a lot of mating! I assume that they fly although I have never seen one flying - they just seem to appear on the lilies each year.
hi, everyone, i found a Canadian Website yesterday with quite a bit of info regarding the Lillie Beetles and it was very interesting.
Basically, they said the Lillie beetle has no known predators in England just now.
However, some time ago Canada was overrun with them and they consequently invented an organic pesticide to keep the numbers under control.
They are now working with the British powers that be in the development of a pesticide for us and are hopeful to have something in the near future.
They also said that Lillie Beetles lay thier eggs in spring on the underside of the plant leaves cover them in poo, and the babies hatch out six or seven weeks later. They grow by eating leaves and aim for the flower buds before falling into the soil below to pupate, (which I guess we already know this)
The adult beetle then take over around late summer to finish the job.
They said, If you suspect the Lillie beetle is attacking your plant, look at the bottom of your plant about half an inch into the soil as this is were they hang out before surfacing to eat, or reproduce, but you must be ready to catch them before they jump or fly.
I suppose we just have to keep doing what we are doing until a pesticode is developed, but I didn't know they hide in the soil so maybe this is another way of catching the little blighters and if we can catch the babies that's a bonus ha ha ?
Hi Passionate - thank you for all the information, you have done a brilliant investigation of this subject. I had no idea that they hung out under the soil at the root of the stem - so I will take a closer look tomorrow. I catch the beetles and fling them over the wall into the field but inevitably they return to the plant within a hour or so. I haven't the heart to kill them and I don't think I would use a pesticide on them either. (soft or what?). I intend to wear some gloves and scrap their poo with eggs into the garden rubbish bin - see if that has any effect. There are no flowers on my lilies yet - just some very good buds at the mo.
Hi y'all yes I agree we are the preditors at the moment, but yes the artical was interesting and I always say if you learn one thing its a bonus, so I'm glad that you found it interesting.
Gurnsey Donkey 2 I had to smile when I read that you throw them over the wall but you think they come back, did you read about the lady who did that with snails?
She put a spot of coloured nail polish on thier shells and chucked them over the fence (iyes you guessed it in a couple of days she spotted them back in her garden, they reckon they always find thier way back so better to do the deed and get rid.
Ha yes Passionate I am sure that they do return - but I try to make life difficult for them so that they may decide to visit a more friendly garden! The cat thinks I am barmy too!!
But as gardeners I think we are naturally, generous, practical and to a point kind humans, unless something or somebody decides to destroy what we have spent time planning and creating for all to enjoy.
So I say don't feel bad when we react to nasty destructive things just get rid of it/them and carry on enjoying your garden ha ha ?
Been down to my wild flower bit (one turf) planted flanders poppies,cornflowers,oxeye daisies, slug pelletts and they have almost all still been scoffed. Not feeling like a very kind human at the omment!
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They are partial to snakes head fritillaries too, I was picking them off every day for a couple of weeks there. Easier to catch when they were mating.
Yes they are easier to catch then - and don't they do a lot of mating! I assume that they fly although I have never seen one flying - they just seem to appear on the lilies each year.
How do you know they dont do a lot of mating, we keeping dispatching them and there is always more!
hi, everyone, i found a Canadian Website yesterday with quite a bit of info regarding the Lillie Beetles and it was very interesting.
Basically, they said the Lillie beetle has no known predators in England just now.
However, some time ago Canada was overrun with them and they consequently invented an organic pesticide to keep the numbers under control.
They are now working with the British powers that be in the development of a pesticide for us and are hopeful to have something in the near future.
They also said that Lillie Beetles lay thier eggs in spring on the underside of the plant leaves cover them in poo, and the babies hatch out six or seven weeks later. They grow by eating leaves and aim for the flower buds before falling into the soil below to pupate, (which I guess we already know this)
The adult beetle then take over around late summer to finish the job.
They said, If you suspect the Lillie beetle is attacking your plant, look at the bottom of your plant about half an inch into the soil as this is were they hang out before surfacing to eat, or reproduce, but you must be ready to catch them before they jump or fly.
I suppose we just have to keep doing what we are doing until a pesticode is developed, but I didn't know they hide in the soil so maybe this is another way of catching the little blighters and if we can catch the babies that's a bonus ha ha ?
Hi Passionate - thank you for all the information, you have done a brilliant investigation of this subject. I had no idea that they hung out under the soil at the root of the stem - so I will take a closer look tomorrow. I catch the beetles and fling them over the wall into the field but inevitably they return to the plant within a hour or so. I haven't the heart to kill them and I don't think I would use a pesticide on them either. (soft or what?). I intend to wear some gloves and scrap their poo with eggs into the garden rubbish bin - see if that has any effect. There are no flowers on my lilies yet - just some very good buds at the mo.
Oooh, they Do have a predator, US!!!!!! Perhaps we should look into them as a source of protein (only joking, I dont even eat meat!)
Hi y'all yes I agree we are the preditors at the moment, but yes the artical was interesting and I always say if you learn one thing its a bonus, so I'm glad that you found it interesting.
Gurnsey Donkey 2 I had to smile when I read that you throw them over the wall but you think they come back, did you read about the lady who did that with snails?
She put a spot of coloured nail polish on thier shells and chucked them over the fence (iyes you guessed it in a couple of days she spotted them back in her garden, they reckon they always find thier way back so better to do the deed and get rid.
Ha yes Passionate I am sure that they do return - but I try to make life difficult for them so that they may decide to visit a more friendly garden! The cat thinks I am barmy too!!
they do say cats are very wise ?
But as gardeners I think we are naturally, generous, practical and to a point kind humans, unless something or somebody decides to destroy what we have spent time planning and creating for all to enjoy.
So I say don't feel bad when we react to nasty destructive things just get rid of it/them and carry on enjoying your garden ha ha ?
Been down to my wild flower bit (one turf) planted flanders poppies,cornflowers,oxeye daisies, slug pelletts and they have almost all still been scoffed. Not feeling like a very kind human at the omment!