Lily Beatle

[Pruner]

These little BLITERS devasted my Asiatic lily's big time several years ago and I haven't grown them since until this year. My question is - are they still so troublesome now and if so what would anyone suggest to stop them.

 

[Meadowlark]

Supposedly, the Asiatic hybrids and oriental lilies are resistant to those bugs.

I ran across an interesting approach to control them...not for everyone and requires careful attention...

"How To Kill Adult Lily Beetles

• Fill a sealable container halfway with soapy water or vinegar
• Very gingerly, without shaking the lily plant, hold the container against the stem of the lily, below the beetle and knock the leaf the beetle is on
• The beetle will instinctively back flip right into your container and drown
• Keep scouting for adults all summer as they stick around until fall"

 

[Sean Regan]

It's true, lily beetles if disturbed instinctively drop to the ground and lay on their backs to avoid detection. I have only seen a few, this year, no more than one per plant, if any. I found those were quite easy to remove and kill by hand.

 

[Owdboggy]

Not mentioned, but you also need to check the underside of lily leaves for the grubs of the beetles. They are disgusting looking blobs made from their droppings. Remove the leaf and grub in one.
Spraying the whole plants with garlic water is supposed to stop the adults from landing on them, never tried it though.

 

[Pruner]

Thank you all for the helpful information.
It seems that the problem is still here today. Its such a shame that these beautiful plants should have such a nasty thug despoil their appearance. Oh well back to the good old two chances rule.