Protecting Your Lilies from the Lily Leaf Beetle

Whether you ’re a lily accumulator , or an partisan , or just appreciate the beaut of lilies , you may have hear about an worm that make for havoc on them . The lily leaf mallet ( Lilioceris lilii ) is cursorily becoming more of a widespread pest of on-key lily ( Liliumspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) .

This pest , which is native to Europe and Asia , was fall upon in Montreal in the 1940s . It was introduced to the United States in 1992 , most probable with the movement of bulbs . presently lily foliage beetles can be found in most Canadian province , and they are becoming increasingly prevalent in the northeastern United States , with continued bedcover into the Midwest . In addition , there are records of this insect in the state of matter of Washington .

target . Photo : Stephanie Fagan

Not aim . Photo : Stephanie Fagan

The adult beetles are easy name by their bright red color , while their sluglike larvae are orangish - unripened . They overwinter in the soil or leaf litter of lily as adult , emerge in springiness to other summertime to lay testicle , which are tan . These eggs are often incur on the underside of leaves in irregular lines . After one to two weeks , larvae hatch , commence to course on the leaves , and continue feeding on leave of absence , bud , and flowers for two to four week .

Luckily for lovers of day lily ( Hemerocallisspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–10 ) , the lily leaf beetle does not tip on them . It feeds primarily on true lilies and checkered lily ( Fritillariaspp . and cvs . , Zones 5–8 ) . The most vulnerable types of lilies include Easter lily ( L. longiflorum , Zones 4–8 ) , tiger lily ( L. lancifolium , Zones 3–9 ) , Asiatic lilies , and some Oriental lilies . Other plants have also been record with minor feeding harm from lily leaf beetles , admit althaea ( Alcea spp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) , lily of the vale ( Convallaria majalis , Zones 3–8 ) , Solomon ’s seal ( Polygonatumspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–8 ) , certain Hosta ( Hostaspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) , and potato .

Although these blighter seem redoubtable , do n’t give up just yet ! The lily leafage beetle can be managed by master larval feeding . Many celluloid pesticides are available and in effect , but if you prefer a more raw approach , examine using insecticidal soaps or neem oil ; you’re able to also hand - pick the grownup beetles , larvae , and egg . If you prefer to use a pesticide product ( let in insecticidal soap and neem oil ) , always read and follow the direction on the recording label .

you’re able to also engraft varieties that offer more electric resistance to lily leaf beetles . Research from the University of Maine has establish that the most resistant lilies are ‘ Madame Butterfly ’ ( L. henryi ‘ Madame Butterfly ’ , zone 5–8 ) , ‘ Uchida ’ ( L. speciosumvar.rubrum‘Uchida ’ , Zones 5–9 ) , and ‘ Black Beauty ’ ( L.‘Black Beauty ’ , Zones 3–8 ) . Certain Oriental lilies like these can provide some resistance , whereas Asiatic hybrid are the most susceptible to lily folio beetle damage .

Research is also afoot through the University of Rhode Island on the possibility of using parasitoids — parasitical insect that eventually kill their host worm — for biological control of this blighter .

For more information about the lily leafage beetle and for specific recommendation based on your localization , meet your regional wing government agency .

TIPS : racecourse spreading damage

Although the lily foliage beetle is presently widespread in the northeastern United States and most of Canada , investigator from Carleton University in Ontario are tracking any new sighting of this insect in previously unknown country . you’re able to get to the map of lily leaf mallet report to date and submit a sighting of your own ( specially if you are in an area that does not have a current news report ) by visitinghttps://lilybeetletracker.weebly.com/.

— Abiya Saeed is an entomologist and an agriculture , horticulture , and natural resources extension agentive role for Colorado State University .

From Fine Gardening # 193

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Sometimes it’s good not to be a true lily. Lily leaf beetles primarily feed on true lilies from the genus Lilium. Daylilies are not targeted. Photo: Steve Aitken

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