Lily Leaf Beetle (Lilioceris lilii)

Order: Coleoptera (ko-lee-OP-ter-a) (Info) Family: Chrysomelidae Genus: Lilioceris Species: lilii Profile: No positives No neutrals 9 negatives Regional... This bug has been reportedly found in the following regions: , Dayville, Connecticut Northford, Connecticut Wallingford, Connecticut Durham, Maine Holden, Maine South China, Maine West Newfield, Maine Agawam, Massachusetts Assonet, Massachusetts Billerica, Massachusetts Brockton, Massachusetts Cambridge, Massachusetts Duxbury, Massachusetts Framingham, Massachusetts Franklin, Massachusetts Halifax, Massachusetts Marlborough, Massachusetts South Hamilton, Massachusetts Springfield, Massachusetts Uxbridge, Massachusetts Wayland, Massachusetts Hillsboro, New Hampshire Nashua, New Hampshire North Haverhill, New Hampshire Webster, New York Chester, Vermont Member Notes: Rating Author Comment Negative Erynne On Jul 31, 2006, Erynne from Ontario Canada (Zone 5a) wrote: Apparently this is a minor pest in Canada but can be destructive to host plants. Host plants include: Lily species, Lily of the Valley & Solomon's Seal. I discovered this beetle on one of my Asiatic Lilies as well as another on one of my brugs. So far, I'm not certain what kind of damage they are causing but I'm killing them just the same. They are native to North Africa and Europe but were discovered in Eastern Canada in the 1940's. This brilliant red beetle measured about 7mm long and 4mm wide. This is approximate because I took these measurements after I squished it. I didn't see these beetles in my garden last year but then again I didn't have the lilies I have now either. Negative cicimclay On May 20, 2007, cicimclay from Holden, ME wrote: These nasty little fellows have destroyed my Asiatic lilies and my fritillaria bulb plants in past years. They become passive and fall off the leaf or stem when you attempt to remove them from the plant. I've found leaning the plant over a container and knocking them off into the container the best practice. If you put water with dish soap in the container it kills the beetle. So far I'm catching them before total destruction this year. 5/19/07 Zone 4/5 Bangor/Ellsworth Maine region Negative northgrass On May 26, 2007, northgrass from West Chazy, NY (Zone 4b) wrote: This beetle first appeared on my lilies last summer. It was late in the season when I noticed the extensive damage to my plants, some had most of their leaves chewed off. They were loaded with the red adult beetles as well as the repulsive larvae and their excrements. I had to resort to spraying. This spring, I kept a watch for them and found many that I squashed. It seem to have helped, so far no big infestation, of course, it is still early. If I find some larvae, I will try the recommended Neem pesticide on them, it is said to kill the larvae and deter the adults Negative mellymass On Jul 30, 2007, mellymass from Metrowest, MA (Zone 6a) wrote: Sheesh new to gardening and after a couple of weeks of trying to figure out what was putting major holes in my asiactics I found this guy on them. Now to figure out how to get rid of it! Negative Sarahskeeper On Apr 24, 2008, Sarahskeeper from Brockton, MA (Zone 6a) wrote: I spray my lilies when I spray the fruit trees, works fine for a week. Mostly I hand pick and squish adults and eggs. Some lily clusters never have much trouble, others are repeatedly infested. Andy P Negative milkbonehappy On May 21, 2008, milkbonehappy from Chester, VT (Zone 5a) wrote: These little devils totally destroyed my Turk's cap (asiatic) lilies. The first summer I noticed them, they did minor damage to the plants - some holes on the leaves. The second summer, the damage was worse, and this past summer, almost all the leaves were destroyed before the plant could bloom. The blooms were stunted and malformed. I had been picking off the beetles when I saw them, but this spring I decided to take drastic action. I repeatedly went through the foliage of my lilies as soon as they popped through the soil in the spring hoping to stem the infestation early. I pulled off every visible beetle, repeating this multiple times. However, each day I'd check the plants and find many more. Where they'd been hiding, I don't know. Finally I gave up and pulled the plants. I read that they are difficult to control and rather than let them spread to other asiatic lilies in your yard or the neighbors, bad infestations should be treated by destroying the plant. I waited awhile before planting some new asiatic lilies, in a different location far from the location where the infested lilies were located. I hope this works. I hate those little buggers. Negative irisMA On Jun 16, 2008, irisMA from South Hamilton, MA wrote: Several yrs ago they destroyed our few lilies. Last fall I decided to try some more and of this month they have returned. I am looking for the site that describes the reseach occuring at the U. of Rhode Island. I have been told by a European correspondant that they eat many things but only lay eggs on lilies & fritillaries. The beetles have appeared but flowers are not open, just the buds so information on how the flowers are located? I don't think that anyone near us grows lilies. Watch out that the orange eggs don't drop on the ground as the eggs will mature there. Negative TLou On Jun 3, 2009, TLou from North Haverhill, NH wrote: Yuck. I hate these things. I garden in MA and NH, and in NH they are destroying my lillies [also my Checkered lillies]. I have been suashing them, but they come back. They seem to fall into the mulch or dirt at the base of the plant, roll over so you can't see the red on them, and hide. What to do? Someone said Neem? I'll try anything. Yuck again. Negative mygarden5 On Jun 13, 2009, mygarden5 from Essex Junction, VT wrote: Disgusting invader. I have feverously squashed them since early spring, fully knowing the damage they cause. When I first encountered them a couple years back the red beatles seemed to do little damage. The offspring however is another matter.. I am a little squimish about bugs, but now in a vengence, when I see a line of red eggs, I mash them with my hands. When the larvae are allowed to develope they devour the leaves rapidly. I monitor my lilies daily and scrape the larvae into a solution of soapy water. (They hide on the underside of the leaves, so this means gettting down to chipmunk level). I thought I had them under control at one point, but it has been an ongoing battle. I try to avoid pesticides, however, I am at a loss as to how to control these pests. Interestingly, I have the same variety of lillies in my garden less then 20 feet away that are unaffected. They share space with foxgloves. Any connection?

By Erynne By wallaby1 By wallaby1 By wallaby1 By wallaby1 By wallaby1 By Sarahskeeper There are a total of 12 photos. Click here to view them all!