Red Bugs on my fritillaria imperialis
Swedboy
Posts: 380
Hi. I found these two amoruous bugs on my fritillaria imperialis. Are they nasty or benine?
0
Swedboy
Posts: 380
Swedboy
Posts: 380
Swedboy
Posts: 380
Swedboy
Posts: 380
Hi. I found these two amoruous bugs on my fritillaria imperialis. Are they nasty or benine?
Posts
Red lily beetles-common pest
http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/problem-solving/help/80628.html
I think it is the dreaded lily beatle. What should I do to get rid of them???
Beetle not beatle
Squash them whenever you see them, but have something underneath as they drop upside down and are then hard to see.
Their grubs can be seen on the underside of leaves, they wrap up in their poo. Disgusting. as no known predator we have to be it.
Kill them- kill them all.......
Seriously- they are a real pest, but when you nab them watch out as they can drop down to the ground on their backs and are hard to spot as their underbits are black.
I squish mine on sight. However, if they feel threatened, they have a tendency to drop off the plant and land on their backs, and their black bellies make them difficult to see, so holding a sheet of white paper under the plant can be helpful Their larvae are truly horrid, and cover themselves with their own excrement, so might look like a bird's droppings. I would recommend using gloves to dispose of these.
They also are partial to fritillaries and, unsurprisingly, lilies so be vigilant.
One f the most useful items when on lily beetle hunt, is an old tea strainer, you can catch the beetles in this, transfer them to an area of hard standing amd squash them to your hearts content. It is probably best not to use your grandmothers favourite silver tea stainer used for the earl grey, but a cheap plastic or metal one works just as well.
Ups. Yes not beatle...
I shall go out on a killing spree now!
They're quite hard to squish. You need to dig a nail in.
Does it matter, we know what he means!