I have heard on the WILS Facebook page that a person in Wisconsin has the dreaded lily beetle. Anyone have infe she could use to battle the buggers? I have been fortunate enough to not see them yet, hope they don't get down here.

From another site: https://plantlilies.com/common...

When you read through the info, it offers control methods...one of which is Talcum powder.

Yes, they have been in Calgary,Alberta (and Winnipeg, Manitoba) for quit some time now.....

crawgarden said:From another site: https://plantlilies.com/common...

When you read through the info, it offers control methods...one of which is Talcum powder.

Talcum powder can cause health issues; I would use a mask and gloves or avoid using it.

I prefer picking off the adults and crushing any eggs by hand once weekly. Once weekly should be enough to catch all of the eggs before they hatch into much more destructive (and slimy) larvae. The caveat is that I only have about 30 plants to check.

I have not heard of it in Wi. Was there a location noted?

No location was given unfortunately. I'll see if maybe i can find out though

It's a pretty big deal if it is here. Nothing to be taken lightly and will definitely impact the amount of people who will grow lilies if they are continually devoured.

I would question the information. I'm not saying it's not true but I am also saying a lot of people get confused about what insect is what insect. Countless times I have watched people at public gardens point to a Japanse Beetle and call it an Asian Beetle and vice versa.

If it was in a UW extension article, I would believe it. Right now I hesitate to do so.

Okay... I found something here...
http://www.wpr.org/invasive-li...

NOT good news . And Washington is a little too close to me. I guess I should watch for it too.

She said it was in Merrill Wisconsin

So it was brought here from somewhere. Merrill is very central in the state. These insects often come as hitchhikers on plants or plant debris.

This is very bad news. I think of the emerald ash borer. We fought it coming in but once it got here, it was bound to go everywhere, like it has.

It will be interesting in how it adapts here. The climate is quite a bit more harsh than the coastal climates. But I suppose my master gardener teacher was right, insects will always beat out humans as they adapt and change. Once infested, you can only knock down a population but you'll never achieve 100% . They are too adaptable, to many life cycle changes.

Yeah i know. Sad news. The lady i heard about this from said she has over 300 martagon lilies in Canada and she had been fighting them for a few years. But she said she is about to have a shovel party to get rid of them because she is losing the battle and tired of fighting.

@roosterlorn, @leftwood, keep your eyes peeled and anyone else. @jmorth, I'd keep your eyes peeled too. Not too far from us

More information here too. A tracking site to register them. I see the one site in Wisconsin was registered, also one in Iowa. See map link, left side of site home page.

http://lilybeetletracker.weebl...

The thing is, I'll probably be able to control them in the garden, but what will happen to the thousands of L. michiganense growing natively here unless the DNR comes up with a plan. And with that high of host population to feed on, I certainly we have them too.

I did have a scare a few years ago when I found these:


I took the bud and hatched the eggs. They turned out to be some kind of Assasin bug, and they were returned to the lily bed.

DNR. In WI. are already pretty short staffed and underfunded. Let's hope it doesn't come to that or I see the outcomes as not so good for the native lilies.

Hoping the DNR and the UW extension system, does something. Before it gets out of control.

This is suppose to be a product made by Bayer that kills these bugs dead. A person in Canada used this in a controlled test. Said it killed both adult and larvae. Maybe that in addition with something in the ground since that is where they over winter. Without damaging any plants at all hopefully. Don't know if this is available in the States though.

https://www.cropscience.bayer....

From the label: SEVERE EYE AND SKIN IRRITANT TRIPLE RINSE
Severely irritating to the eyes and skin. Fatal if swallowed, if absorbed through the skin, or if inhaled. Avoid contact. Avoid breathing vapour or spray mist. Wash thoroughly after using and before eating, drinking or smoking. Wear protective clothing including long‐sleeved shirt and long pants (or coveralls), chemical resistant gloves, goggles and respirator when handling or spraying. Keep in original container during storage. Do not contaminate or store near feeds, seeds or foodstuffs. Keep away from fire, open flame, or other sources of heat.

I hope so too Dave.

The use of chemicals is something individuals have to weigh out. I'm not sure how far I am willing to go with chemicals in the event of an infestation. I use organic methods for everything thus far. Do the best I can and for the bulk of things, I manage quite well.

I'd prefer to stay organic. But i don't want my lilies ruined to the point i have nothing. . I just got into this hobby and already have a big chock of money into it