My lilies aren't even usually poking out yet this time of year, and I don't usually start to see lily beetles until my lilies are at least half as tall as they're going to get - maybe in July - but I've just seen and battled at least as many lily beetles as I usually see in a whole season!!! Noooo, this is not an exageration. They were on my 1-2 inch tall lilies. Only one lily, Hanson's in it's first year of appearance, is about 8 inches tall, and had several lily beetles and those orange spots (babies) on the back of the leaves. The beetles were even on one of my daylilies. They were on about 10 different lilies in 10 different spots in my yard. I don't know if it's from all of the rain or the unseasonably warm temperatures the past several days, but I'm afraid it's not going to be a very easy year to have lilies.
I knocked them off into a jar of oily water and doused all the baby lilies that are up with neem oil. Hope that helps. Is anyone else having lily beetle problems? I haven't been keeping up around here for a while.
HOLY MOLY - BEWARE!!!!! Lily Beetles up the kazoodle!!!!
Oh no! Sorry to hear that you're having such troubles ~
Thanks, Moby! I went back out and found one on another daylily. I guess I'll have to douse those with neem too.
I don't understand this. I thought I got them all last year before they had a chance to lay eggs. Do lily beetles fly? I hadn't thought so, because they always either just sit there and let you knock them off into a jar, or else fall to the ground and try to disappear.
I'm very happy to say that I have no experience with the little buggers(yet), but this article say they fly very well. >:(
http://www.ehow.com/how_4453283_spot-red-lily-beetles.html
Thanks, Moby, but I didn't see anything in the article about them flying. However, another article on the page says to also pour some of the neem oil solution around the base of the plants, because the larvae overwinter there before emerging. Guess I know what I'm doing tomorrow. Other useful info there too.
Third sentence from the end of the article. ;)
I use Sevin and Bayers Rose and flower insect spray.
I start now just as the lilies emerge.
Spray the ground around the plant as well as the plant itself.I repeat spraying every few weeks or when I see beetles.
They have a twice per year cycle so if you dont see them in mid summer its because thay are laying eggs at the base of your plants.
I dread the thought of the rotten reds, and I've added MANY new Lillies. I just sprayed the gardens with Bayers Rose and flower spray. ge have you found that you need to add Sevin also? If so, I'll do it tomorrow. I haven't seen any yet, but I am a realist. :)
I alternate. Be careful to use Sevin with the proper dilution.
I am planting over 100 lilies with in the next two weeks. Ad that to what went in last fall. I gotta-lotta-lilies
I am so sorry to hear this. It must be aweful. It's so nice of you, ge, to let people know what works.
Donna
Thanks Moby. Don't know how I missed that. Well hopefully my lily beetles are genetic mutants that can't figure out how to fly.
I'm going to try to stick with neem for now, as I think it's probably more environmentally friendly.
Now I kinda remember why I gave up on lilies for several years after mine were decimated by the beetles. Then I added a few - no beetle problem - a few more and a few more - not much beetle problem - then more - then more - but always was able to just pick them off here and there until last year it was a bit more of a problem and I got some neem. Sure hope they're not planning to have a convention in my yard this summer - or that I can call it off.
Thanks ge. I truly appreciate any/all advice on controling the critters. Here I go again - You say "every few weeks". Bayer says every 6 weeks. I feel 6 wks is tooo long between battles, but have been fearfull of doing harm. Don't mean to be dim witted, but when you say a few, you don't mean 6 right? Thanks again.
No I spray about every 3 or 4 weeks. That includes deer repellent.
Terrific, I feel good with that. It's a gorgeous day here. Got gloves, glasses & hat, & I'm going out to continue clean-up and hunt critters. Doubt I'll be back in till I'm hungry. Have a great day.
Thanks for all the valuable insight . . . I will start spraying my lilies now. ^_^
Good thing, Seandor. You're a little too close to my lily beetles, even if they have to crawl to your house.
true enough! Too bad it is going to rain this weekend . . . Maybe I will get to spray on Sunday
Have you seen any lily beetles yet?
I am just beginning to see my lilies! But I will keep a hawk-eye out for the beetles.
Absolutely do! Try soaking the area around each lily with neem oil (diluted in water w/ a bit of soap added to disperse, as per directions) before the critters emerge. I think it's helped a lot. I've had several more beetles since my original post, but less all the time (knock on wood).
Great tip - I presume that I should wait until all this rain ends? I have neem in the basement so I could do it tomorrow -even in the rain.
Michaela
I would think it wouldn't hurt as long as it's not raining hard, as it'll soak in and kill the larvae that are living in the soil around the base of the plant. As you probably know, once they emerge they wreak havoc very very quickly.
Sharon
Lily beetles here!! I use the systemic for tree and shrubs that lasts all season, put on once only, also put it on the perennial hibiscus with good luck. Costs about $20 but goes a long way when diluted. Sis tried it and uses it all the time now.
Lots less work.
Ladyslipper, do you know what it's called - and does it kill the beetles or just keep them from eating the lilies?
Is it the Bayer product?
I treat in spring just when the lilies break the soil and spray SEVIN around the ground at the stem.It worked for me last year.
I have to spray everyfew weeks when I see them. The systemic would save a lot of trouble.
I'm in CT and this is the first year they have come to my garden. At first I didn't realize what they were but I did some research and I have red lily beetles. I sprayed with neem and soap and so far they haven't come back. I didn't spray the soil so I think that I will do that tonight.
Oh no. You're just 94 miles from us with Long Island Sound in between. I'm hoping you kill every one of them.
I use 'bayer' 12 month tree and shrub. It is the only thing that did a great job. Others you have to keep going out to reapply, and I don't have the time....you don't need to use much so a bottle goes for all season ...
Pirl, I'm guessing you're near Riverhead. I'm probably a bit closer, so I hope they don't get over LI Sound.
I don't see them when it is cold, but as soon as it warms up, my lilies are on their menu. I'm out spraying every day I see at least 1. I don't use poisons because we grow lots of tomatoes and a few other vegetables, so we're pretty much organic.
I have the best luck spraying on a mixture of essentials that smells predominantly of clove. If not diluted properly (and shaken frequently), the leaves burn. I used to pick them off and smash them with a rock, but I've gotten bolder. Now I just kill them with my fingers. One of my lilies is somewhat hidden due to overgrowth by a bush. When I cut the bush back to spray, it was COVERED with red lily beetles, doing EVERYTHING BAD! They mate, lay their eggs, etc. Disgusting.
GE, I also gotta a lotta lilies, and I expect they will be blooming from June through September. Buds are just forming on the asiatics. They will only bloom if I keep spraying.
What a huge job! I don't look forward to all the spraying but I will keep watching for them and hoping I don't find them.
Yes, we are about 25 miles east of Riverhead.
Ladyslipper do you truly use the Bayer only once? I'm currently using a combination Bayer (6 week one), and Sevin, alternately every 3 weeks. So far I've only had 2 of the evil critters (2 too many).
Thanks for the advice. Daiseycat, consider yourself very lucky. I'm still finding them almost daily. 6 today, and they're getting trickier - hiding in the center leaves when they're still curled up. At least they used to stay in plain sight. Guess I'll have to try that bayer stuff.
Perenniallyme; I'm really dilligent about spraying. I followed Pirls advice (in a thread a couple of years ago) and started with "dorment" spraying of Pyola, and then routine spraying. Pirl saved my Lillies and my sanity (somewhat on sanity). I continue to follow that pattern, only now with Bayer & Sevin. I really like the Bayer product but I"m nervous about a 12 month stretch. I don't think I have the courage to go that long. :)
Daisy, yes just once for all season....it stays in the plant and works great. I just did the 'old' tiger lilies from grandmother and all beetles are gone, last year worked all year long with just one application. Saved these beloved heirlooms!!
Sis uses it now and is very happy!!
Thank you Ladyslipper, that sounds wonderful. You know, as the age goes up, the desire/energy to reapply goes down. :)
daiseycat - where has my sanity gone? I have no recall, at all, about the method you use but I'm thrilled it's working for you.
We go to Maine a few times a year and that's where I buy the Bayer product because it's not allowed to be sold in NY.
Pirl it was actually a thread you responded to, not a thread by you. I think it was in '08 and it was about the dreaded Lillie Beetle. You were doing dorment spraying with Pyola at the time. I have included dorment spraying in my routine eversince, and it has made a dramatic improvement. I tip my hat (or whatever strange head covering I have on) to you when I look at my Lillies. Thanks. :)
Ladyslipper - is the Bayer 12 month tree and shrub also safe with other ornamentals? Most of my lilies are mixed with other plants especially roses.
I don't really have insect problems but as a precaution I use Spectracide Triazicide twice during the season as it is safe on all ornamentals.
I'll have to look into all of those products. I really hate to use environmentally unfriendly stuff. If the Bayer is banned in NY, I wonder what the reason is.
Here it is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imidacloprid