What seems to work, as with Solomon's Seal slug sawfly, is an intervention at exactly the right moment, when they are larvae but before they have matured into the adults. If you catch them then you can break the lifecycle and at best, a new generation has to migrate into your garden. In the first two years of growing lilies in my garden I had lily beetle each year but by giving ONE spray of the whole plant as soon as I spotted the larvae for TWO years in a row I now have wiped them out (though I continue to look for a new lot to appear--so far, this year and last, nothing).
I have used Provado Lily Beetle in a spray can from our garden centre. I only use it for this purpose and only once so it has minimal environmental impact. Nothing else really works because the adults, though slow, fall off the leaves, turn on their backs and cannot be spotted on the ground. But this method seems to dispatch the whole generation. Not nice but as they are aliens I don't feel as bad.
Seems like you have got those lily beetles sussed out Cambridgerose - I must admit that I am not a fan of lilies - their perfume is too strong for me, so as the buds start to open the pots are moved to a different area of the garden far enough away from my sensitive nose! However well done to you for being so organized with your spray, I guess those darn beetles know to avoid your garden. Please share a picture of your flowering lilies if you can.
Now that is a lily I could cope with Nanny Beach, what are they called - do you have a picture? We visited an open garden today where there were approx 200 lilies and not one single beetle on them - I didn't get a chance to ask if they sprayed them - surely no beetles on 200 lilies is impossible - I have approx 6 lilies are there are beetles on them everyday! I know how you feel Eric's mum it is very disheartening to find what could be a lovely plant torn to shreds.
I will try and find out, I have no idea how to get a picture on here, but no;1 son, (computer whizz-kid) is coming next week, I will see if I can find paperwork for the lillies.
GD I have over 100 lilies and so far this year I have only found 1 beetle. Last year I had a fair few though. I havent sprayed them and check twice a day for beetles
Guernsey Donkey2, the lillies are asiatic ground cover, I think I bought them from Parkers, as bulbs planted in pots in the autumn. They flower very quickly, already out now, a mix of red and yellow. Will still try to get you a pick nxt week.
Yuck - how can you Jim - that is awful, however I do stamp on slugs which makes me no better, but the lily beetle is so pretty (I am a colour red freak!). Thanks for the info Nanny Beech, I must look them up and a photo would be great if you can sort it with your son. Thank you. As for having no beetles on 100 lilies Sophie - well aren't you the lucky one - it seems that they select certain gardens and your garden was by passed this year - I will give mine directions to you for next year and I am sure I won't be the only one as quite a few gardeners here would be glad to see the back of them too!
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What seems to work, as with Solomon's Seal slug sawfly, is an intervention at exactly the right moment, when they are larvae but before they have matured into the adults. If you catch them then you can break the lifecycle and at best, a new generation has to migrate into your garden. In the first two years of growing lilies in my garden I had lily beetle each year but by giving ONE spray of the whole plant as soon as I spotted the larvae for TWO years in a row I now have wiped them out (though I continue to look for a new lot to appear--so far, this year and last, nothing).
I have used Provado Lily Beetle in a spray can from our garden centre. I only use it for this purpose and only once so it has minimal environmental impact. Nothing else really works because the adults, though slow, fall off the leaves, turn on their backs and cannot be spotted on the ground. But this method seems to dispatch the whole generation. Not nice but as they are aliens I don't feel as bad.
Seems like you have got those lily beetles sussed out Cambridgerose - I must admit that I am not a fan of lilies - their perfume is too strong for me, so as the buds start to open the pots are moved to a different area of the garden far enough away from my sensitive nose! However well done to you for being so organized with your spray, I guess those darn beetles know to avoid your garden. Please share a picture of your flowering lilies if you can.
I've given up with lilies full-stop. It was heart-breaking to suddenly notice them shredded to bits.
Last edited: 26 June 2016 14:26:44
We have ground cover lillies in pots, they have no smell. They usually do pretty well, BUT today OH found a you-know-what one one!!!!
Now that is a lily I could cope with Nanny Beach, what are they called - do you have a picture? We visited an open garden today where there were approx 200 lilies and not one single beetle on them - I didn't get a chance to ask if they sprayed them - surely no beetles on 200 lilies is impossible - I have approx 6 lilies are there are beetles on them everyday! I know how you feel Eric's mum it is very disheartening to find what could be a lovely plant torn to shreds.
I will try and find out, I have no idea how to get a picture on here, but no;1 son, (computer whizz-kid) is coming next week, I will see if I can find paperwork for the lillies.
GD I have over 100 lilies and so far this year I have only found 1 beetle. Last year I had a fair few though. I havent sprayed them and check twice a day for beetles
Guernsey Donkey2, the lillies are asiatic ground cover, I think I bought them from Parkers, as bulbs planted in pots in the autumn. They flower very quickly, already out now, a mix of red and yellow. Will still try to get you a pick nxt week.
I have had a problem with them this year and find that instead of squashing them with my fingers,a pair of long nosed pliers does the job better.
Yuck - how can you Jim - that is awful, however I do stamp on slugs which makes me no better, but the lily beetle is so pretty (I am a colour red freak!). Thanks for the info Nanny Beech, I must look them up and a photo would be great if you can sort it with your son. Thank you. As for having no beetles on 100 lilies Sophie - well aren't you the lucky one - it seems that they select certain gardens and your garden was by passed this year - I will give mine directions to you for next year and I am sure I won't be the only one as quite a few gardeners here would be glad to see the back of them too!