HOW TO KILL THE RED LILY BEETLE

How to kill the red lily beetle

The red lily beetle is a scourge of ornamental lilies and even the sight of a single adult beetle is enough to turn the blood of any passionate gardener cold! As beautiful as they the red lily beetle can quickly destroy your collection of prized lilies and so action will need to be immediate! However there is a problem!

The adult red lily beetle has a highly annoying habit of dropping to the ground when subjected to the slightest interference, while the dull orange larvae cover themselves with a slimy, foul-smelling excreta which deters predators and un-gloved fingers alike.

Red lily beetle larvae

While squashing lily beetles can be extremely satisfying it may not be particularly practical so as a far more effective measures go you may need to apply a systemic insecticidal spray, particularly with heavy infestations.

If you can stomach it avoid spraying when the lilies are in flower as beneficial pollinating insects will also be affected by the insecticide.

Adult beetles overwinter in the soil and move up onto the lilies from late March onwards. Over several months each female lays 200-300 eggs on leaves and stems. You will need to keep a close eye on your plants from April onwards and be aware that madonna lilies are particularly susceptible.

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