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Lilies and little red spiders

Simon7250Simon7250 Posts: 8
in Problem solving

Hi all,

I have a problem with my lilies. They are being eaten by what appears to be a small red spider which comes along every year. I can see it sometimes just munching on the leaf or petals of my lilies. I can't seem to find a way to make it go away. I don't really want to kill it as it is what it is but be great if it could go eat something else.

Many thanks,

Simon image

Posts

  • waterbuttswaterbutts Posts: 1,214

    have a look at lily beetles on the rhs.org site. Any similarity? Then squash first and ask questions later!

  • muddy maremuddy mare Posts: 106

    i agree with water butts !

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,068

    Do you mean lily beetles Simon? Red back and black tummy, fall to the ground if you try to get them and lie on their back so they're hard to see. If so, they're  a pest I'm afrid and will ruin your lilies. The grubs do most damage so if you can get rid of the adults first it helps prevent the problem.

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Simon7250Simon7250 Posts: 8

    Thanks Waterbutts and everyone else,

    I just read the RHS site and these seem to be a bigger pest throughout the country. Its war of the beetles. I think i need to remove their eggs from the fritillary leaves and elsewhere on the plant but would you recommend replanting the lilies in new soil?

     

  • Simon7250Simon7250 Posts: 8

    Hi Fairygirl, yes little red beetles, sorry was speakinig to someone else before coming on here who thought that is what they may have been know as image

  • waterbuttswaterbutts Posts: 1,214

    You don't need to move the lilies but you do need to keep an eagle eye on them. The larvae are sticky, black and disgusting. The beetles drop to the ground when they see you and they are the very devil to find. They will be back, so don't give up.

  • Simon7250Simon7250 Posts: 8

    Thanks Waterbutts, I went out before and cleared all the leaves up of the eggs and other nasty black bits but will be on dirty control ha ha image

     

  • violon340violon340 Posts: 25

    Hi Simon. My lillies were devastated last year by Lilly beetle. This year I tried Provado Ultimate Bug Killer. Once a week, in the evening (to avoid sunburn). It seems to have worked. Good luck.

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