For those of you dealing with Lily Beetle

[HeelsDown]

Still no adults and didn't see any larvae. But didn't get down and look under tonight...save that for the weekend. Good news is that they are all still growing and today I got my first bloom! A red one. Yay!

So, question? If I manage not to see anymore of any phase of the beetle this year, am I out of the woods? Or, will they be back next year too? Oh, and do they live all year long? As in, do I have to talc as long as they are about to and are flowering?

Just curious...I hadn't bargained for this amt of mtce when I bought them. Talc-ing them and and having white lillies in my pretty garden is starting to get to me.

Thanks....as always!

Jenn

[Smitty]

you're never out of the woods where the beetle is concerned..they'll come in from the neighbours and they burrow into the ground for the winter.

[Eeyore]

unfortunately Smitty is right. i keep my fingers crossed that i never see the buggers because if I do I'll have to phase out my lilies. I just don't have time for that kind of maintenance.

[Dumbo]

you're never out of the woods where the beetle is concerned..they'll come in from the neighbours and they burrow into the ground for the winter.

Isn't that why stores sell nematodes? To kill off the beetle pupa in fall and spring?

[Eeyore]

Hmmm, I wonder if there are nematodes that would work with RLB..... If so I think someone would have discovered it by now.

[Dumbo]

They don't work with this bug? Only native beetles? If so, then buy insecticides from the states (since the effective ones are mostly banned in Canada), or live with it.

I'm the type to just let stuff be. I wouldn't waste a dime or any energy fighting a bug. Got better things to do than squish bugs.

[Eeyore]

Some people like their lilies enough and have the time to make that sacrifice Marc. Thankfully I have not had to deal with Lily Beetle and I hope I never do. I love my liles, they are my favorite flower but I would hesitate to use banned pesticides because they are indiscriminate and will kill off beneficial insects as well and possibly affect birds and other animals that visit my garden. Any plant that causes too much trouble or is prone to uncontrollable aphids or pests sees a very short life in my garden. I don't have time to deal with it and then it becomes work and not pleasure and I don't like work that much.

[Dumbo]

If this is the bug you are talking about:
http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin ... Maladie=44

There is nothing much you can do, according to the Montreal Botanical Gardens. They say to squish them, just like people here are doing. There is no "green method" of dealing with them apparently.

You can search other bugs here:
http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin ... geursEN.do
The Botanical Gardens only gives "Green Methods" of getting rid of bugs.

[OGrubber]

Good link Marc. Thanks. +1!

[Dumbo]

According to the Montreal Insectarium, http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/insectarium, the type of lily you plant is a factor in how much this bug will love you.
(link is french only: http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/insect ... hes&page=7)

Native lilies: this bug doesn't care for them much, will hate you, and move on to your next door neighbour if he has better pickings.

Asian lilies: Likes them more than native species.

European lilies: That's its lust. Will love you long time and move in forever.

I know some people are passionate about their flowers, but seems to me going native is the way to get rid of them. Otherwise, keep squishing.

Apparently, per the link, many people miss the bug when they go out to do some squishing. It covers itself in it's poop and it looks like a tiny piece of dirt on the leaf. The link says this is the bug protecting itself from either the sun or predators, If I understood it right.

Can anyone confirm the lily type they are finding this bug on (what region your lily is from that is)? Native? Asian? European? Curious if what the site says fits in with the bug-headache people here have.