Lily Beetle

[charlie]

I was going to do a post yesterday asking if anyone had yet seen them as they seemed late and the Fritillaria meleagris have been un troubled this year - However yesterday evenings garden stroll we found 3 ! all on the regal lilies

[AndyC]

I haven't seen any here since I stopped trying to grow Fritillaria.
Would they attack Crinum powellii if the beetles were present?. Only snail damage on these, I think?????

[Chad]

I read somewhere, but can't find it now, that they were becoming less of a problem.

The closest I can get is;

There are signs ...[of]... one or two tiny native species of parasitic wasps, getting a taste for the larvae, are becoming a natural ecological control in some areas.

They are here without abatement this year though.

Their diet is limited to Lilium and very close relatives such as Cardiocrinum, Fritillaria and Nomocharis for example.

I wouldn't expect Crinum to be at risk.

Chad

[MartinNicklin]

I got rid of my big clump of Lilium pardalinum giganteum because they infested it by the hundreds. My tree lilies and martagons escaped. Big mistake. I should have left it as a bait plant because the last two years they have completely ruined my other lilies. I’ve now got rid of them as well. I absolutely love lilies but I’ve given up on them. Does anyone know if they attack Gloriosa because I’ve planted those this year? It’s a pity because they are pretty little things but sadly with the most obnoxious looking and destructive offspring.

[Chad]

What an interesting question Martin.

The AI bit of Google says they are affected, but I can't find any source reference to support that.

Gloriosa are only distantly related to true lilies, not even in the same familly, so I wouldn't expect them to be affected at all. Gloriosa are in the Colchicaceae.

Let me know oif I'm proved wrong please.

Chad

[John P]

I have 30 plus tree lilies and they are currently under attack. I have destroyed a dozen or more beetles in the last few days. I am just off to check them now as the sunshine seems to bring them out to mate.

John

[John P]

1 found.

John

[Richard K]

I have some lily beetles if they are wanted! They are a pain, and each year I wonder if i can be bothered to replant the lillies because of them.

[flounder]

None at all this year so far. No vine weevil or cockchafer either. That provado is good stuff