By: Jackie Rhoades
What are the red beetles eating my Asiatic lilies? If you live somewhere in New England, the answer is simple and devastating. It’s a Lily Leaf Beetle.
Information About The Lily Leaf Beetle
The Lily Leaf Beetle originated in Europe and made its way to North America around 1945. Discovered in Montreal, the red lily beetles were confined to the surrounding area for years.
Then in 1992, these Asiatic lily bugs were found in Boston, MA and the infestation now covers all of the New England states. It’s theorized that most of the spread these lily beetles was due to the sharing of plants and bulbs among gardeners.
Identifying Asiatic Lily Bugs
The Lily Leaf Beetle is a beautiful insect with a bright scarlet body with a black head, antennae and legs. The adult grows to about 1/4 – 1/2 inch long. They squeak when gently squeezed to deter predators. While the lily beetles only lay eggs on species of Lilium and Fritillaria, they will gladly feed on other species.
Life Cycle Of The Lily Leaf Beetle
The red lily beetles emerge from the ground in the early spring around mid-April. After mating, the female lays her eggs in an irregular row along the underside of the leaves of young lily plants. One female Lily Leaf Beetle can lay up to 450 eggs over the course of a season. The eggs hatch in a week to ten days
Damage Caused By Asiatic Red Lily Beetles
The larvae cause much more damage than the adult red lily beetles, chewing from the underside of leaves and sometimes stripping the plant. The larvae resemble slugs, with swollen orange, brown, yellowish or greenish bodies that are distinctive in that they carry their excrement on their backs.
They feed for 16-24 days and then enter the ground to pupate. Lily beetle’s pupae are fluorescent orange. In 16-22 days, the new Asiatic lily beetles emerge and feed until winter when they bury themselves in the soil until the cycle begins again.
Lily Beetles Control
If you have only a few plants infested the red lily beetles in your garden, hand picking the adults and eggs may be an effective control. If the infestation is greater, more drastic measures are needed.
The insecticides carbaryl (Sevin) and malathion are both effective in controlling Asiatic lily bugs. However, carbaryl is toxic to bees and malathion kills many non threatening insects.
Neem oil is an organic insecticide that is effective on young larvae but must be applied at five day intervals for full effect.
The insecticide imidacloprid is most effective and can be found in several formulas including soil drenches and foliar sprays. Whatever you choose, read the label carefully and follow the instructions.
How You Can Help Prevent The Spread Of Lily Leaf Beetle
If you live in the New England area, be careful when sharing your bulbs and plants with others. Check the soil or better yet, use packaged soil to pot your gifts to friends and neighbors. If there are no signs of these Asiatic lily bugs currently in your garden, don’t accept gifts from others who have found them. With conscientious care, these little red devils can be controlled.
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