Yep is lovely to look at but has very antisocial habits for its larvae. Best trodden on. They are sneaky little critters as will fall off the plant onto the ground upside down if spotted and the plant shakes when touched. Making them difficult to spot.
As far as I know the lily beetle (if that is what this insect is) has no predators - not even the birds find them tasty and is not a native to the British Islands.
Yes, they certainly do. I used to fling them over the wall into the field, but next day they had returned. What is it about lily leaves that draws them back - they are easy to see as their bright red on deep green easily shows up doesn't it.
Just dont plant geum mrs Bradshaw near your lilies! A flash of red isn't always a lily beetle. Very frustrating. They can fly so you were probably just giving them a bit of exercise.
Posts
I agree with Lyn ..... some info. here about them.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=553
I use diluted neem oil here so don't now have a problem with them.
Bee x
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/beetles/common-red-soldier-beetle
😊
They can fly so you were probably just giving them a bit of exercise.