red lily bug

[barquar]

Something was eating my Lily plants did a quick search and found this red insect was the cause. Anyone else had problems with this eating your lilys.
Barquar

[diggleken]

Lily beetle? Lilioceris lilii?
Cheers
Ken

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by barquar

Something was eating my Lily plants did a quick search and found this red insect was the cause. Anyone else had problems with this eating your lilys.
Barquar

Yes, it can kill lilies and relatives very quickly. There have been several threads .....

[Za]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Yes, it can kill lilies and relatives very quickly. There have been several threads .....

Hmmm relatives you say? I have a couple of relatives that I might set them on! Only joking.

[JRsbugs]

I've had the red lily beetle since 2006, the hot year. They increased the next couple of years but I do a daily round checking for them, you can pick them off easily but some will drop off the edge of the leaf to the ground.

Once on the ground they are hard to find as upside down they are black. Put your hand under it first.

Check under leaves for eggs, they are laid in a row and are red. I usually find them mating but also find a single one which has just arrived. Where there's a pair there's usually a spare.

If you miss the eggs and they hatch, you will see leaves with holes appearing. The larva cover themselves in their own excrement, that's how I first found them, I got it on my hand!

I usually find a couple after winter when cleaning around pots, they hide under leaves near lilies in the garden too so be vigilant.

Best remedy, put them under foot.

Janet

[Jason Green]

Afternoon all,

Yep, sounds like Lilioceris lilii. Still, may I just point out there are other insects that appear similar to the Red Lilly Beetle, such as the uncommon Black-headed Cardinal Beetle Pyrochroa coccinea for one. Whilst if you find a red beetle on Lillies it is likely to be lilii, a quick examination of the specimen should be made before eradication of it.

See:
Credit: Johnny81

Yes, to the more experienced we could tell the difference, but it's worth making sure first

Thanks! As you all were...

Take care,

Jason

[Susie]

I have them in the garden for several years and they are such a pest and in such numbers that despite my picking them off whenever I see them they have decimated the lillies and this year I have decided just to let the lillies die and not replace them.

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

a quick examination of the specimen should be made before eradication of it.

See:
Credit: Johnny81

The image is of the uncommon Black-headed Cardinal Beetle which the Red Lily Beetle could be confused with in their range - should have labelled it better.

[diggleken]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

The image is of the uncommon Black-headed Cardinal Beetle which the Red Lily Beetle could be confused with in their range - should have labelled it better.

C'mon jason, get a grip..............................