Pests & Diseases
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Red Lily beetle (4 replies)

Ryanbeee
8 years ago
Ryanbeee 8 years ago

Hi

I had some really nice Lillies this year, which flowered well with huge blooms. Unfortunately, the rest of the plant was destroyed by red lily beetle. They are still on there now and I am no afraid it will really harm the plants. Is there anything I can do?

bmagrath
8 years ago
bmagrath 8 years ago

Lily beetles are evil and can only be destroyed by crushing or spraying with Provado Ultimate Bug Killer. Look under the leaves for the little devils and kill them or you'll have problems next spring. New lilies are treated so you generally get the first year clear and then get beetled the following year, so its either new lilies every year or seek and destroy.

Ryanbeee
8 years ago
Ryanbeee 8 years ago

Awesome, I shall try this. Thank you very much 🙂

I would rather not get new lillies, as these ones have been so good.

Florexpert
8 years ago
Florexpert 8 years ago

In case you would like a more organic way of dealing with Lily beetle, I would recommend planting tolerant varieties. Some lilies are less attractive to the dreaded beetle, like Lilium 'Defender', L. regale, L. henryi 'Madame Butterfly', L. speciosum 'Uchida' and the famous L. 'Black Beauty' developed by Leslie Woodriff, the very same who bred 'Star Gazer' (unfortunately 'Star Gazer' isn't Lily beetle proof...)L. 'Black Beauty' is itself the result of a cross between L. henryi and L. speciosum, so it should get beetle resistance from both sides :)If you have other lilies about and they do get beetles, it is best to act swiftly as soon as they appear, by crushing the adults and the eggs. The adults also have the annoying habit of dropping off the plant and playing dead as soon as you try picking them, don't be fooled, they'll climb back up and munch more leaves as soon as you're not looking!

Ryanbeee
8 years ago
Ryanbeee 8 years ago

Thank you both for the info 🙂 It would be a shame to lose the lillies I have, but I will look into the varieties you have suggested.





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