lilly beetle

My problem with using chemical sprays to kill the Lily Beetle is that the bug killer is usually systemic and that causes problems.

Since the chemical enters the plants tissues even down to the roots, any insect that bites, chews into the lily get a dose and dies. I thought, obviously, that's great, until I read a horticultural article that pointed out the the systemic chemical also permeates the pollen of the flowers, and any bees not only pick it up but take it back to the hive - now that can't be good!!

So, as Spruce says, the only organic method is finger and thumb!!, but I haven't given up on finding some other effective specific organic control.

If, this year, I find them early enough i.e: when the Lilies are still small, I'll resort to my first year method - slipping a large plastic bag over the pot, slitting the top and spraying fly killer into it - it does work killing beetles and larva, and it's a contact killer not a systemic one. But since the Beetle is active until November in my area I'll have to do several anti-beetle patrols each day when I can't use the first method.

 

Hi Axe, I had a look at that site about Neem oil. It's worth investigating, I think, although I'd never heard of it before Over the last four years the Lily Beetle has been getting more numerous in my garden and last Autumn I changed the compost completely in both of the large pots. I think it helped to do that, but there were obviously some of the beetles that had hibernated in the soil of my borders. I've seen and killed eight this season so far, which is pretty good as usually I've killed 80 - 100 by now. I saw and sent to heaven the 8th beetle today and it was the only one I've seen for days

 

Companion planting is a nice idea but in the case of the Lily Beetle I really don't think it'll work/ The damned thing breeds in great numbers, is highly mobile and flies. Also you'll find that with Lilies being quite a substantial and high plant it will tower above any possible companion plants leaving the Beetle to don it's sunglasses. sit in the sun in the deckchair, having an icecream on the Lily leaf.:gaagh:

 

Well, the Lily Beetle is definitely on the move by the sound of all the comments
While the Beetle is a pain biting holes in the Lily leaves, the larvae is the one that will do the most damage if it is allowed to. As Pamdish says, the larvae cover themselves with their own treetreetreetree and it's makes it harder for a pesticide to get through.:gaagh:
It's a bit like the Chicken or the Egg, the larvae does the real damage but we need to kill every Beetle we see because although they like sitting in the sun, they also like to procreate every chance they get
So for me, if you're using the Fly Killer and Slit Top Plastic Bag method I would have thought it would be best to do it every time you see a Beetle, that way you'll also catch any larvae hidden away as the Fly Spray does kill them. Kill the Beetle and you'll hopefully stop the larvae:yess:

 

Hi Cosmos, when you're using the Fly Killer/plastic bag method use a big enough plastic bag to allow you to move the can around to force the spray into all of the bag. You don't have to spray directly onto the Lilies because the mist of Fly Killer will settle on all parts of the plants while they're inside the bag. You're getting that white coating because you're spraying directly on the plants.
The best thing is to wipe the white coating off, the insecticide will still be on the plant, to make sure Bee's don't come into contact with it until it's dry.:yess: Once it's dry, with being a contact pesticide, it won't do any harm. Also, if you can, do it in the early evening when the beneficial insects are in bed:D