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New England Gardening

Red Lily Beetles

8 years ago

I saw my first red lily beetle yesterday and two more today. My lilies are barely up in southwestern CT.

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claireplymouth z6b coastal MA

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

My lilies are up, one of them about a foot tall, and so far no
beetles. I only had a few last year and those were in a far corner of
the yard. It's too early to say for this year but I'm hoping that the
parasitic wasps are significantly controlling the beetles.

Claire

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Comments (17)

claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
8 years ago
AACK!

Claire
suzabanana (6b Boston/N. Shore)
8 years ago
I found several today too :(
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In my yard it seems to be an issue of location, location, location. I'm only seeing the beetles on the tiger lilies in one corner of the yard. They haven't reached the other tiger lilies scattered around other parts of the yard and none of the other lilies by the house. I suspect a new infestation flew in and settled where it found some lilies. I figure if I can wipe these out I'll be OK next year. I'll probably do a soil drench with a Bayer's product. Claire
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cloud_9
8 years ago
Me too - I saw a single beetle on a tiger lily the was barely 2 inches high. Usually they don't come until they are full grown. I tried to squish id and dropped it, but at least now I know to keep my eyes peeled.
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years ago
Has anyone tried something like a garlic spray to see whether having a really different scent helps? Or some of the Bt that works on potato beetles which look quite similar? I may try both, along with the squishing.
moliep
8 years ago
Oh no! Not so soon! It's raining today but I will go out and check mine, which are only a few inches tall. When will that tiny wasp-killer arrive here along southern CT?
casey1gw
Original Author
8 years ago
I've already killed 11 beetles. I guess the mild winter helped increase their population. I'd love to know if anyone has results with spraying, etc.
moliep
8 years ago
Claire, I think the wasps were released in RI a few years ago. Hopefully they go west as well as north.

No beetles (yet) on my lilies, which I weeded around and checked carefully today.
Steve Massachusetts
8 years ago
Two more met their maker in Central MA today. April 24th.
Richard Dollard
8 years ago
I swear I found one on a window in my attic!
Jana Silvia
8 years ago
I've found 5-6 already. I check my lilies (all 40+) twice a day. So far very little damage.
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
7 years ago
I found my first two today.

Claire
defrost49
7 years ago
I found some the other day. Need to squish more of them but while I was stooped in shocked dismay, most of them ran off to hide.
moliep
7 years ago
Last week I dispatched two of them in soap solution., but a third one got away a few days ago. Maybe the wasps are traveling into CT!
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
One a few days ago and one more today, but minimal damage to the lilies - I really think the beetles are in decline here.

Claire
casey1gw
Original Author
7 years ago
I've killed 42 so far. Earlier there would be 5 or 6 a day but only a few now. It seems that only a few of my lilies attracted the beetles and had some damage but many others had none at all. It's still worth growing all the beautiful lilies.
Jana Silvia
7 years ago
After what I thought was compulsive checking for lily bugs (and squishing them), I just discovered 3 lilies whose lower foliage is being devoured by the larvae. YUCK!! I hand picked off what I could (double YUCK) and sprayed the area with neem oil. I hate these bugs!

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