Talkback: Dealing with lily beetle - Talkback

Tim Burr

14/05/2012 at 13:34

I catch lilly beetles with a spring loaded meash infusor (used for infusing tea leaves) which I hold open over the lilly beetle and then snap shut. Before it knows what's happening, I've captured it. I gently pull the meash infuser away, letting go a little bit of a grip so as not to damage the lilly leaf, and then put the meash infusor with contained beetle into hot water to kill it. Totally organic (no chemicals), and mildly satisfying!

Wintersong

14/05/2012 at 13:38

And there was me feeling guilty about guillotining slugs with my secateurs It is a quick death no?

Flowerchild

14/05/2012 at 14:45

Wintersong, that is exactly what I do to slugs to! I refuse to feel guilty, I would feel bad when I'd be using the pellets though. Lily beetles are crushed with whatever I can find - I really love my Fritillaria meleagris- IMO just as quick as boiling them.

Patio

14/05/2012 at 15:34

I just catch them in my hand and drop them in the water butt I find they arent very good at swimming

Marinelilium

14/05/2012 at 16:40

Like those other nocturnal nasties these horrors don't like garlic sprayed leaves . A dilute spray of garlic infusion seems to flummox them (as does leaving crushed mint leaves and lavender in the pots later in the summer).

Once the flowers are open though it's squishing 'em that seems the only remedy. I am a little worried by the amount of satisfaction this gives me TIm Burr, she laughed demonically, so you are not alone.

ChrisNHH

14/05/2012 at 18:24

I've found 7 so far, but I've noticed they only attack the older Lilies. The Lilies I planted in the Autumn remain untouched. The older Lilies have a different type of leaf as well. The untouched Lilies happen to be ones advertised last year in Gardener's World (including Tree Lilies). I hold a trowel below them when collecting. I've heard they don't only attack Lilies, our Fritillaria imperialis have given up before they even started. They've gone pale green and will not flower now. Maybe the beetle is to blame?

Sooz too

14/05/2012 at 21:27

Don't forget to hunt out the eggs underneath the leaves. They are tiny, but as they are red as well they do stand out so you can squish them. When I do catch the adult beetles, I pop them on the floor upside down - they stay put as they think they are camouflaged!!!! And then I crunch them. Very satisfying. But not quite as satisying as the crunch you get from a vine weevil.

Gary Hobson

15/05/2012 at 04:49

I use the finger and thumb method too. I've already posted this photo on a couple of other lily beetle threads. But it is so satisfying:

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab51/falcosubbuteo/lily-beetles3.jpg

The warm dry weather seems to bring them out. I've been finding half-a-dozen, or more, every day while the weather has been fine.

I think that regular visual inspection, and manual termination, is by far the most reliable and effective way of dealing with these creatures.

Matty2

15/05/2012 at 12:47

Just found my first lily beetle. I crunched it but think if I find any more I will try the tea infuser. - What else can they be used for! Sounds very satisfying and I do love my lilies

oldchippy

15/05/2012 at 15:38

Gary Hobson can we have some of your dry weather here in Ewell ,We had two dry days over the weekend and its raining again now.That must be over a month of rain.

susan spooner

17/05/2012 at 20:23

I found lily beatles on my soloman seal today, is this unusual?

figrat

17/05/2012 at 20:55

Unfortunately not. Squish on sight!

Gary Hobson

18/05/2012 at 05:44

oldchippy wrote (see)

Gary Hobson can we have some of your dry weather ... ,We had two dry days over the weekend and its raining again now...

Afraid not. We only had two nice days here too.

So there's been no sign of beetles since then.

But the weather will improve, and they'll be back.

Chalkweed

18/05/2012 at 19:29

This year, my lilies seem to be fated - nibbled by lily beetles during the day, and munched by slugs and snails whilst its raining, and overnight. Some pot-fulls are being attacked for the 1st time, despite being several years old!
This is the worst damage my lilies have ever suffered.
When I find either types of pest, I get great satisfaction from lifting it from the 'victim', then quickly crushing underfoot.

Thanks Marinelilium for the tips about garlic, mint & lavender. I'll try them out.

jean linsley

19/05/2012 at 23:18

I too love lilies... keeping an eagle eye is a must..simular to Tim Burr..I use an old jam jar to knock them into & close the lid...in the jar is small amount vinegar & salt...with bit of water.. placing the jar outside & leaving it until I need it again..eventually throwing it away..
Used to make me angry when they dropped off & I missed them.. I dont anymore...

lucky3

19/05/2012 at 23:32

All these suggestions and methods are good , I dont feel guilty at all either . They have killed my plants and I kill them!

I havent invited them to my garden so they get the tresspasers treatment ! did you know they fly too ?

Bookertoo

21/05/2012 at 16:21

One of the most useful items when trying to catch lit beetles, is an old tea strainer. Preferably not the one you use for your Earl Grey - but one that is no longer used in the kitchen. You can knock the red terrors into it, put your hand over the top and carry the beastie to a hard surface where you can jump on him howling with glee - the last part is optional, but my neighbours are used to this, and know I am rather odd anyway so ignore my howls in lily beetle season. (come to that, at any other time as well ..... .) Seriously, a strainer really does help catch the beetles, and is easily popped into your pocket or tool bag as you go about the garden.

Lat year we were away for most of May so I did that which I don't normally do, and doused the potted lilies with Provado ultimate bug killer. This was sad as I have been non-chemical in the garden for years, but was not happy to come back to around a hundred or more dirty black sticks. I must say it worked very well indeed, nothing else got touched, and I can see it happening again. The trouble is there is nothing that will recognise these beetles as prey, as they are not native to the UK, but another aggravating import. Red means means danger to most insectivores so they are not likely to try it and see if it is delicious or not.

Monica King

21/05/2012 at 22:25

I Just pick it off and carry it around the garden waiting for it to squeak

Sunshinegal

24/05/2012 at 12:23

Sunshinegal

24/05/2012 at 12:31

I grow my lilies in pots, and submerge the pots weekly in a rain barrel for 30 mins, and scoop off the beetles with a jar. I leave the lidded jar in the sun till they die. This is an easy method and I have very few catches since ai have been doing it this way. And my lilies love the soak.