Lily beetles but not red

Lilybeanz🌸

Hi all, I have found these beetles in the compost of my lilies, I cannot seem to find any info online so I thought I would ask here if anyone knows if they are a danger to my lilies ? 

Thank you

B3

They look like vine weevils. They're a danger to everything!

Dovefromabove

Yep ... vine weevils .

Dovefromabove

There will probably be vine weevil grubs in the compost, eating the roots too. 

Lilybeanz🌸

Oh ? I have never seen them before! Aside from squishing what I can see is there anything else I can do before they eat everything ? 

Thanks

Dovefromabove

Go out in the evenings and look for the adults ... that's when they do their marauding   Squidge them (if you keep chickens they like them to eat). 

When the lilies have flowered empty the containers and tip the compost onto a tarpaulin or sheet of plastic and spread it out looking for the grubs ... leave them a couple of days and the blackbiids and robins will hoover them up.  

When we were troubled by vine weevil we got some nematodes and treated the border which was most affected.  That was three or four years ago and we've not had to treat it since .... fingers crossed.  

https://www.nematodesdirect.co.uk/8-vine-weevil-killer-nematodes   Other suppliers are available. 

Iamweedy

Definately vine weevils.

I used nematodes on my vine weevils and I do think that the vine weevil nematodes may have had an effect on the lily beetle grubs .

No proof but I have seen  a huge reduction in the population of lilly beetles.  The grubs have very similar "behaviour and body form".

I spoke to a man on the NEC Nemasys stall about this. He said he could not comment because there was no scientific evidence. about this.

Lilybeanz🌸

Thanks all, I have just ordered some nematodes. I would hate to lose any of my lilies, i have had some for 6 years! And I have only had lily beetle once, there were 3 beetles together on one plant. Other than that I have never had any other problems till now but hopefully the nematodes will work, I will also do as advised after they have flowered and will continue to hunt for the adults to squish ?

Lilybeanz🌸

Thank you Mike

Lilybeanz🌸

Hi all, so I purchased and used nematodes in June but it doesn't seem to of worked. I continued to check each night after using it for the adults and found and squished a few however I am still finding and squishing the adult vine weevils every night. I followed the directions as per the packet as soon as the nematodes was delivered. I have also cleared the area where my pots are and checked under the rims of the pots as previously advised as well as checking underneath the pots but I can only usually find them late at night on the plant leaves. I'm not sure what to do. I have read a lot of people have had success with bio provado and bug clear vine weevil killer but I have also read this is bad for bees and others. I really do not know what to do, if to save my many potted plants with bio provado or the bug clear or to wait and try nematodes again, per the website the best time to use this is spring and autumn

Any ideas would be appreciated 

Thank you 

Dovefromabove

The nematodes will work ... They are killing the grubs underground which are the next generation of weevils. 

A second dose of nematodes might be a good idea, as you seem to have had a particularly bad infestation. 

Remember to keep the soil damp as this helps the nematodes survive