Red beetles on Lillies

I have just discovered that there is a special type of red beetle that goes on Lillies (particularly my orange Lillies it seems). What can I do to get rid of them? They have annihilated some of my Lillies - is there any way back? They don't seem too fussed about my white and yellow Lillies.

 

Yes, thanks, I will go tomorrow. Nice to see a familiar name on this section. I've never travelled this far down the Forum before!

These red beetles really have deciminated my Lillies and their leaves etc. I don't know if it's poo or cocoon type stuff but I keep finding brown blobs on the stalks/leaves too. It's really yukky and sometimes there are 2 red beetles crawling around on top of eachother - do you think they are mating or they just like being in pairs?!!!

 

I never had the heart to kill them - I know they're thugs but they look so pretty. I gave up growing lilies instead - although this was also partly because lilies are poisonous to cats.

 

Thanks Claralou and Marley. Nice to know what the blobs are - now for the attack!!

 

sneaky little blighters... if they see you coming they drop onto the soil upside down. And because they are black underneath they are difficult to see!

 

i go out early in the morning wearing rubber gloves and carrying a saucer. Hold the saucer under the head and tap the lilly, the beatles fall into the saucer. and lay possum so you can flush them down the loo. then i inslpect the buds and leaves for lumps of poo and wipe them off and then i look under the leaves for eggs and wipe them off. I have not seen signs of life for two weeks now---so fingers crossed

 

Well done, grannydrums, you are really thorough. They are probably scared of you and know what's coming to them!