In my garden for the first time this past summer. 2016 may be a challenge.



Below is another type of leaf beetle in the garden
This one does not appear to eat lilies

I'm certainly not looking forward to that when they finally get here!

And spectacular photography, Hank!

Hank, I had them for the first time last summer also. What a mess they made of my lilies. Madonna lilies that have been growing here for 40 years eaten down to nothing much less all the new lilies over the past few years. I was/am devastated.

Right now lilies are coming up everywhere. I don't even know if I want to start checking them. I would go around with a can of dish soap, bug killer and water and pick them off the plants. I would even smush the grubs with my fingers. Oh, I was mad. I spent hours of good gardening time killing them and I don't think I made much of a dent in them. I reported it to the Lily Beetle Tracker at

http://lilybeetletracker.weebl....

They responded quickly and I can see the beetles have moved moved even further than when I reported.

I am in Yates Co. in the Finger Lakes. None of my gardening friends have noticed them in their gardens or they have not looked close enough. I don't spray because of the hummers and many butterflies I have so I am at a loss of any other way of controlling them that hand picking.

I am so glad to have found a fellow NYer fighting this problem.

Joy

They have been seen in Seattle??? That is NOT good news!!! Guess I should start keeping my eye out for them.

Joy, I have already gotten 3 of them with the lilies barely up. I hope we are not fighting a losing battle. They are easiest to find on sunny days as they will be mostly sitting on top of the leaves.

Had 3 last summer, managed to kill them before they multiplied. I've found 6 already this year, all on my fritillaria! So don't forget to check them if you have any. No eggs or larva found but I expect to have a lot more beetles this year.

@bearsearch was that on Fritillaria imperialis by any chance? Just wondering because that's what I use as a capture crop. Works really well here. During spring I only need to do a thorough check on the Fritillaria and a few others such as 'Lankon' that seems especially delicious to the beetle. It really is a time saver

Hank, I found one this morning out clearing beds and it looks like some have gotten into the lilies that are already up. I must get out armed and ready. Rain just drove me in but that is OK as it is very dry here.

I planted a fritillaria last fall but no sign of it. Gave one to my neighbor and hers is in blossom. Go figure, but southern exposure and only about a mile apart.

William said:@bearsearch was that on Fritillaria imperialis by any chance? Just wondering because that's what I use as a capture crop. Works really well here. During spring I only need to do a thorough check on the Fritillaria and a few others such as 'Lankon' that seems especially delicious to the beetle. It really is a time saver

Yes, it was on the Fritillaria imperialis. I have two other types that weren't affected.

I freaked out a few minutes ago when I spotted an orange beetle behind poking up out of one of my emerging OT lilies. On closer inspection it turned out to be one of those darned Asian Lady Beetles that has been such an annoyance. The annoyance today is quite tempered by relief at not seeing the Red Lilly Beetle.

Besides, Lady Bugs eat aphids so they're a helpful bug.

Young boxelder bugs are also totally red. They show up in disgusting herds almost every year at my house.

A few years ago the asian lady beetle was spotted for the first time in Sweden. I'm a bit worried about what will happen to our native Lady Bugs if this highly invasive species takes over So can understand that its not a popular garden visitor, although it has its uses as well.

hostasmore said:Young boxelder bugs are also totally red. They show up in disgusting herds almost every year at my house.

I feel for you! They show up here every few years in fairly large numbers but so far aren't much of a problem for me. I have seen them swarming certain properties in town though where it looked from a distance like every thing was covered with a layer of thick red Jello. Gross!