Lily Beetles - Knowledgebase Question

south gardiner, Ma
Avatar for anglwngs913
Question by anglwngs913
February 6, 2009
For the past 2 years I have had an infestation of beetles that eat my lillies and I end up with almost nothing when it comes time for blooming. How can I beat these beetles to the punch before they get onto my lilies in the spring? What can I use to eliminate them and still keep my 4 cats safe?


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Answer from NGA
February 6, 2009
Japanese beetles are a difficult pest to control. Your best bet is a two-prong approach: one to deal with the larvae, one to deal with the adults. Japanese beetle grubs are best controlled by spraying beneficial nematodes on the lawn and garden area. These microscopic worm-like creatures attack only the grubs in the soil and not plants, animals or humans. Spray them in spring when the temperatures are above 55F. For adult beetles, I'd try a new product called whole neem oil. This is different than standard Bioneem in that it is a stronger concentration of this organic spray. All suggestions are safe for your cats.

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