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Lily beetle

valerierobertsvalerieroberts Posts: 726
in Problem solving
i don’t believe it but it’s true. Today south Devon coast a lily beetle on a stem of Allium.
The lilies in my garden are only 4 inches high so watching out. Valerie

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,757
    East Anglia beat you to it ... we found our first ones on Saturday!!!  >:)

    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1011292/the-first-lily-beetles-of-the-season-2018#latest 
    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    I found our first 2 last week down here - as if that wasn't bad enough today I found two sets of couples!
  • valerierobertsvalerieroberts Posts: 726
    Gosh, and I thought I had been targeted unfairly. Valerie 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,757
    edited April 2018
    Don't think you've had quite your fair share yet Valerie  ;)
    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    That may exterminate them olliebears but I just couldn't bring myself to do that - chucking them over the wall is my limit (into our field). How successful is WD40 - maybe I should invest in a can?
  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,122

    Hi Folks,

    I use a spray of diluted neem oil .... it is totally organic ... and don't have any problems growing lilies or fritillaries.

    See this link for further info.

    http://www.discoverneem.com/neem-oil-insecticide.html

    and this one for how to make it.

    http://www.discoverneem.com/neem-insect-spray.html

    I use it as soon as growth starts in April and I drench the foliage. Any spare solution goes onto the soil below as the earthworms are supposed to love it. I repeat spray every few weeks.

    Neem is best used preventatively .... but will work on pests that have already arrived. It does not hurt beneficial insects. Only chewing and sucking insects are affected. The main reason is that insects need to ingest the neem oil to be affected, and beneficial insects don't eat your plants. However, you can still kill beneficial insects if you smother them with neem oil, so I tend to spray late evening to be safe.

    It does stink a bit ... but is easy to mix up and apply.

    I got mine off ebay .... wasn't expensive for a big bottle which will last ages. At room temperature it is solid, but goes liquid again within a couple of hours in the airing cupboard.

    Worth a try .... also seems to work well for gooseberry sawfly and aphids.

    Bee

    Bees must gather nectar from two million flowers to make one pound of honey   
  • Bubba RayBubba Ray Posts: 83
    I've been "feeding" my Sarracenia with lily bettle's for the last 10 days or so....... 
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