Lily Beetles Like Crazy!

[libby muller]

I've been adding to my huge lily garden for more than 20 years and have a large, varied selection. Never heard of lily beetles until last year. I treated them with Sevin several times and had good results, but they were teeming at the end of the season, and most of the lilies didn't make it. I know they overwinter and come back. I wonder if I should move all the lilies and take a season to rehab the dirt plant, planting plants that the *%$$ing beetles don't care for.
If I don't transplant, is there any advice for killing the hateful little monsters? They are pretty but that doesn't mean they can stay

 

[Meadowlark]

Welcome @libby muller !

If it were a garden veggie, I'd do exactly as you say and rotate location, but sometimes not that easy to do with plants. I understand that fresh Neem oil is very effective on the larva, and that might help in your efforts.

 

[Chuck]

I've been adding to my huge lily garden for more than 20 years and have a large, varied selection. Never heard of lily beetles until last year. I treated them with Sevin several times and had good results, but they were teeming at the end of the season, and most of the lilies didn't make it. I know they overwinter and come back. I wonder if I should move all the lilies and take a season to rehab the dirt plant, planting plants that the *%$$ing beetles don't care for.
If I don't transplant, is there any advice for killing the hateful little monsters? They are pretty but that doesn't mean they can stay

Neem Oil and a Spinosad based product will take care of them. Neem will kill the larvae but doesn't do much on the adults. Spinosad kills both larvae and the adult. With either product you must spray every 5-7 days until the beetles are gone. Both products are organic and safe for people and pets.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

I knew nothing of spinosad and looked it up to see if it is available here and the first thing I saw was,
"Chronic exposure of adult virgin females to low doses of spinosad leads to mitochondrial defects, severe neurodegeneration, and blindness."

 

[Chuck]

I knew nothing of spinosad and looked it up to see if it is available here and the first thing I saw was,
"Chronic exposure of adult virgin females to low doses of spinosad leads to mitochondrial defects, severe neurodegeneration, and blindness."

Please send link. Adult virgin females? Chronic exposure, low doses? I wonder why this is all non-existent in the US. Must be because there aren't enough adult virgin females to make a survey. Are you sure that what you read isn't some kind of joke?

 

[Oliver Buckle]

I Googled Spinosad UK and in the frequently asked questions one was 'Why is Spinosad banned', clicked on it and that was the answer. I went searching and finally found that quote in a National Institute of Health article, but they were talking about flies, so taken out of context.
It was banned here agriculturally because it is a bee killer, but has been reintroduced with restrictions for use on sugar beet, basically they mustn't have any flowering crops nearby.
"Not enough adult virgins for a survey"

 

[Chuck]

I Googled Spinosad UK and in the frequently asked questions one was 'Why is Spinosad banned', clicked on it and that was the answer. I went searching and finally found that quote in a National Institute of Health article, but they were talking about flies, so taken out of context.
It was banned here agriculturally because it is a bee killer, but has been reintroduced with restrictions for use on sugar beet, basically they mustn't have any flowering crops nearby.
"Not enough adult virgins for a survey"

Yeah, I found the same site from NIH. As I am sure you are aware the NIH is not looked upon favorably in the US due to political (Covid) and possibly criminal reasons (USAID). I found the entire research rather dubious.

I wonder if spinosad makes adult male philanderers go blind?

 

[teachertecnic124]

I've been adding to my huge lily garden for more than 20 years and have a large, varied selection. Never heard of lily beetles until last year. I treated them with Sevin several times and had good results, but they were teeming at the end of the season, and most of the lilies didn't make it. I know they overwinter and come back. I wonder if I should move all the lilies and take a season to rehab the dirt plant, planting plants that the *%$$ing beetles don't care for.
If I don't transplant, is there any advice for killing the hateful little monsters? They are pretty but that doesn't mean they can stay

thanks and it was good

 

[Oliver Buckle]

I wonder if spinosad makes adult male philanderers go blind?

Not so far

 

[libby muller]

The neem oil I used said not to spray buds and flowers to avoid harming those we love. Maybe the same for the virgin-thumper?