How To Protect Your Lilies From The Dreaded Beetle Invasion

I came home after a week of being away to find that all of my beautiful lilies, which were growing tall and getting ready to bloom, had been destroyed to the top of the plant. The blooms were still at the top, but the rest of the plant's leaves had been completely devoured.

This caused me to go and check the other lily areas in my yard, and sure enough, they are now being eaten by something as well. I'm concerned that this destroyer will go after other plants in my yard, and maybe even my planted peppers and cucumbers.

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THE LILY LEAF BEETLE AND ITS LARVAE

I did some digging and found out that I'm dealing with the Lily Leaf Beetle. I'm dealing with the beetle itself as well as the larvae. When I came home on Sunday, I noticed all kinds of little tiny red beetles. Yesterday, I noticed blobs all over my lilies. The blobs were like black on top of orange-ish larvae bugs with a black tip. This is the Lily Leaf Larvae.

I took some photos of the bugs on my flowers and started doing some research about them. I found some information on the Minnesota Extension Office page saying that back in 2020, these beetles were confirmed in the counties of Anoka, Goodhue, Hennepin, and Ramsey, but obviously, they are now in Stearns County.

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ARE OTHER PLANTS AT RISK?

What will these beetles and their larvae eat? They mostly go after two kinds of lilies, which include Lilium spp. and Fritillaria spp. However, the adult red beetles will eat your hollyhocks, hostas, lilies of the valley, potatoe, bittersweet, and Solomon's Seal.

HOW TO GET RID OF LILY LEAF BEETLES AND LARVAE

The larvae will indeed destroy your plants, and there are a few different things you can do to keep them from eating all of your lilies, according to a garden supply company.

• Hand-pick off the beetles if you only have a few plants and minor infestations. This can be very effective.
• Hold a jar of soapy water underneath them and then push them off the existing leaf.
• Neme Oil Spray can kill larvae if applied as early as possible and used for 5 to 7 days.
• Spinosad is another product that has been successful. This is a bacterium that, if used in the early stages, can help get rid of the beetles and larvae.

REPORT A PEST

If you find something in your garden that you are unsure about, make a report and send the information to the MN Extension office by clicking HERE.