Lily beetle - worst camouflage ever

got blown over to Kristen garden

 

How clever is that,it fascinates me how crafty these bugs are...

 

I certainly caught a few doing the horizontal tango, so I guess that the eggs are a formality.

 

But unless you pick them off cleanly - any nudge of the plant and they will be dislodged - they then land belly up, and you can't see them for love nor money. So you move on thinking "one won't matter I'll get it tomorrow" - in that time its munching your plants.

Ever wonder why there are more in only a day or two's time? Those are the ones you missed the first time. The ones squeezed into the leaf rosettes are hard to spot ...

And then there are the babies wrapped in their mother's poo ...

No matter how vigilant you are you get some holes in the plants. Much easier just to use a systemic insecticide, only needs applying once a fortnight, and knocks them off before they get a chance to breed so you get fewer to kill later on too.

 

Some where here abouts I read about slugs and snails added my comment ,Do you think I can find it?...Today however in the Saturday Mail purchased for the TV guide. Richard Johnson has written a whole page (38) relating to these pests which a lot of people might find interesting.

 

@rosietutu, have a look at your personal content which you'll find in the drop down box under your name at the top of the page. Your comment should be listed there.

 

Ive spent more time on my back than them! as ive noticed this yr that they are getting more giggy with it on the under side of the leaves,,crafty fooooo..lers

 

Oh you are clever..I had no idea that was there. Still grappling with the new Smartphone.I learn something new every day pity I shall know it all when i'm dead !

 

Your welcome Rosie! Did you find what you were looking for?

 

I caught over 10 today and that was in the garden center

 

At the time of the American war of Independence, the British soldiers wore excellent camoflage, earning them the unofficial name, the red coats. In fact I think there's a poem about it. So you can't blame it all on the beetle. The beetle isn't alone in its daft choice of uniform.