Tree lillies unknown pests

I have several pots with tree lilies. I know that they are loved by snails, slugs and red lilly beatles which make holes in leaves. But this spring I have noticed unusual damage to the lily leaves which look like long cuttings. I have inspected the leaves. I have not noticed any insects on them, no any larvae. Some peony leaves are damaged the same way.
I hope more experienced gardeners can help me to solve the riddle and advise me what to do.
Meanwhile I am going to spray my lilies with neem oil + soap in water.

 

Hi, I think it is slug or snail damage. There's a small, white-shelled snail (no bigger than a little fingernail) that causes similar damage to my Iris and Lily leaves. Have you tried checking them by torchlight at night?

 

Thank you. I will try checking them at night. How do you get rid off them?

 

A couple of nights prowling round the garden with a torch and a bucket with a bit of salt in it. Add 2 litres of water, stir, leave on a low heat....oups, no, that's a different recipe . Seriously, when the weather's dry, little pots of beer half-sunk in the soil sorts out big snails and slugs, but the little white horrors I just flick off into a bucket, crush and give to the chickens. Crushing would do if you haven't got poultry Perhaps leave them in an out-of-the-way corner for hedgehogs and birds to dispose of?

 

Hi Noisette47,
Thank you very much for your advice.
I inspected the lilies last night and surprise surprise I have not seen a single creature on them. So I am more puzzled now and want to know who is damaging the leaves of my plants.

 

I think its slug damage, due to all the wet weather.
I use those Ferric Phosphate pellets, just a very light scattering.
I think they work to some extent.

 

I'm puzzled too, because it really does resemble slug or snail damage. Are there any silvery trails anywhere around that area?

 

Hi Noisette47, no I haven't seen any silvery trails anywhere.

 

What a mystery! I'd put a couple of slug pellets in each pot, as a precaution, then check daily for lily beetles. Apart from that, there's not a lot else you can do until the pest is identified

 

Hi

Looks like a slug or snail damage as its gone for the tasty tender part in the middle of the leaf .. has this only just happened with all the rain we have had ? as April was very dry and I had very little damage on hosta etc but now I am having to keep a eye out ,,, have a look under all the pots in the area see if you can see hiding


Spruce

 

Thank you all for your replies.
I have noticed that some other plant leaves have the same damage as if they are torn. The damage is very unusual as I have never seen such before. And I can't see any pests.

 

All Plants adapt to their new environments in diffrent ways

So it could just be your plant reorganising its DNA expression

Or it could be Nimatodes
You will not be able to see them with the naked eye as they are smaller than small.

 

Deffo sounds like nematodes(microsopic worms)
Possibly Aphelen choids
Not all nematodes are bad btw
Although i really hope im wrong as that would be it for your plants.
This link might help i found it after completing this post.

Lily (Lilium spp.)-Nematode, Foliar

Although it might be a plant virus causing the damage.

There is a number of different nematode species, 33 at least

This could be a foliar nematode.
(Aphelen choides ssp)

I had to learn this lesson the hard way too

Dont bring nematode-infested plants/soil to your garden
Dont compost any suspected materials as that will spread the worms
Anything from a garden centre must be sterilised or at the very least quarantined well away from your sacred garden space

High heat kills nematodes
Once introduced they are very very very very very difficult to deal with

I just grow from seed indoors to avoid this
If i put a plant outside it can never come back to the grow space.

I run my own plant nursery for scientific experiments and I also sell on ebay


The above image is the proceeds from a 60cmx120cm space seeds germinated February.

BTW nematodes love sand and extra waterings as well as extra fertiliser