This is one of the two bugs I hate the most; The Scarlet Lily Beetle!!! The other is aphids but that is for another blog posting.
These are nasty little creatures that can completely decimate your lilies, I've been a victim! Basically, you have to kill these nasty little foreigners when you see them.
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| Poop-covered larvae |
What? It looks like the larvae are covered in bug poop? Yes, you are correct. I TOLD you these things are nasty. Unfortunately, the only sure-fire way of controlling these pests is to kill them when you see them. Squish the bright red adults, squish the poop-covered babies that hang out on the underside of the leaves.
However, as of late there have been a couple of regional universities that have identified additional means of control. The University of Massachusetts Cooperative Extension reports: Pyrethroid insecticides (Permethrin is one) kill adult beetles and are of relatively low toxicity when used as directed. Also, a variety of wasps have been imported from Europe and are being tested in the U.S. with success by the University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension. They are a natural predator from where the Scarlet Lily Beetle originates. Those are some wasps that I would be happy to see in my garden. Lilies are quite possibly my favorite flower.
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| Go Get 'Em Wasp!!! |
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