Lily beetles

[Bumblebeefriend]

Hi, does anyone have a decent solution for lily beetles? I'm reluctant to spray as I dont want to kill the bees, but will if I have to.

Watching with interest.

I've planted a load of 'Pink Defender' this year, which is meant to be beetle resistant, so am cautiously hopeful...

Go round every day with a dish, pick off the beetles holding the dish underneath to catch the escapers. Tip dish onto hard surface and stamp.

Horrible things!
Yes, do as Meredintof suggests.

Yes, they are horrible. They pretty much decimated my lilies last year so this year I am determined to get the better of them. Many thanks for the suggestion@MereDintofPandiculation - I will give it a go.

This is why I don’t grow lilies. You have to catch them in a dish and squish them. Very unpleasant.

You also have to rinse off the brown blobs that their hatched grubs live in. I had amazing tall white lilies and had to give them away as I couldn't get on top of the beetles. I wonder if Neem oil would work though? It works for lots of things and you can spray it on in the evening after the bees have gone to bed.

@PerseverancePays, hadn't thought of neem oil, thanks for the suggestion. Hate the brown blobs!

The larvae cover themselves in excrement to deter predators.

If you are assiduous enough dealing with the adults you may not have any larvae to deal with