Lily beetle
Lilioceris lilii
This description was machine-translated.
How to spot it
The lily beetle (Lilioceris lilii) is a striking, bright red beetle that specializes in lilies, Fritillaria imperialis, and Fritillaria meleagris. Both the beetles and their larvae feed on leaves, shoots, and flowers; during heavy infestations, often only the leaf veins remain. You can recognize the larvae by the dark brown, slimy fecal matter they carry on their backs for protection. From April to August, the female lays orange eggs in rows on the underside of the leaves.
Prevention
Regularly check your lilies and Fritillaria imperialis starting in spring and collect beetles, larvae, and egg masses by hand, ideally in the morning when the beetles are still sluggish. Do not plant different lily species too close together so that infestations cannot spread unchecked, and encourage natural enemies like parasitic wasps by providing a flower-rich environment. Changing the location when planting new specimens, as well as removing infested plant parts in autumn, reduces the chances of the beetles overwintering in the soil.
Affected plants
These plants in our database are especially susceptible.
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