I got my first pink lilies 2 weeks ago in Lowes, i was so happy because i never had those before, i only have tens of tens regular orange lilies. As i was checking them yesterday i noticed that something was eating the lilies!!! i did not find anything though, but this morning i saw them!! those nasty red beetles!! disgusting!!! I hate insects so much that i can not even describe it, but the worst thing is that I can not make myself to squish them, so i wont be able to keep control of it. I think the bugs must have come with the bulbs, so i am afraid now that all my orange lilies are gonna be attack soon. :( This weekend i am gonna get nees oil and try this but if this is not gonna work i will have to dig upp the lilies and get rid of them i can not let my garden die casuse of some stupid bugs!!

I too have been battleing these beetles for the past 2 weeks. I first sprayed Neem (I don't use chemicals). It only kept them off for a couple of days. I did alot of research on them. They are related to JBs and rose chafers. Since they emerge at night, birds are not around to get them. The only effective nonchemical way to keep them in bounds is to handpick. I go out as soon as it is dark with a jar of warm soapy water and brush them into the jar.The way to eradicate them, is getting them at the grub stage. A nonchemical way is to apply either Milky Spore on your lawns and planting areas (but takes up to 3 years to be fully effective), or spray nematodes (which I did years ago for JBs with excellent results).The good news is there is only 1 generation a year. My family is hysterical when I go out, as I put a hooded rain jacket on to keep the mosquitos off of me, have a light that looks like a miner"s light on my head, and a power flashlight that is coiled over my shoulder...good thing I do not have any close neighbors...

Thanks Dunwaukin - I heeded your advice as well and found quite a few surface bulbets in and amongst the mother bulb - tried not to disturb too many of them during the transfer but I am so pleased now because I have semblance of order once again and the oriental lilies needed the room to roam - ahhh the scent tonight was heavenly - there are only about 40 orientals out there at the moment in that tulip/peony/oriental lily garden, so I know what I'll be ordering more of this fall to make up for the room created when I moved the asiatics over to their own garden....Thanks for everyones help on this - dispite the heat and humidity here, the asiatics that were moved earlier this week have settled nicely in their new home.

I don't know that anything attracts them other than that they emerge nearby, and there are some sort of leaves to eat. They do have preferences. Don't we all. The good news is that last year, at least here, the flood of damage was short in time, and mostly limited to three or four species. Yes, I panicked too early [grins]. They spent more than a week and less than three weeks eating wild grape leaves, Joe-Pye weed, Touch-me-not, and morning glories. They also liked the ground-cherries. Nothing died. Just looked scruffy for a while. Re roses, I only have wilds, shrubs, climbers, etc. My roses were touched only lightly. None died. Hopefully, this year will also be mildish. But it's not July yet. I should have thanked kimmrs almost a year ago.... My bugs looked different from what was sent, and I got involved in trying to track variations down. Never sent a thanks. A late...... thanks! LindaS