Thursday 2 May 2013

It's lily bug season!


We've had a lovely few days of warm temperatures. Everything is coming up, coming back, or awakening!
Including our asiatic lilies and red lily bugs!

How do you get rid of lily bugs?
I've ordered Neem Oil, and spray it faithfully on the leaves of my lilies.


See the holes in the leaves?

They're back!

And another one!

If I can't see you,
you can't see me!


The lily bugs have been active. Those little darlings who love eating Asiatic Lilies, fornicating in great glee on the luscious leaves (see below!), then the larvae live in their own poop on the plants. The flowers that result are quite droopy, if you don't either catch them, drown them in soapy water, or feed the bugs to your ducks. They are really gross! 

I have been happy with the results of the Neem Oil. A simple, natural solution.



You can order it, if it isn't in one of your local nurseries. 
You mix a bit with water, and add some surfactant, and spray the plants every 5 - 7 days.
Our Guinivere and her lillies


More resources:


Lily Leaf Beetle Life Cycle from the U. Mass. They say, "This pest will only lay its eggs on true lilies and Fritillaria species."

Ottawa Orchid Society’s Fact Sheet on Neem

2 comments:

Kay L. Davies said...

I love lilies, but have never been able to grow them, and now I think I'm glad, if they bring their own bugs. Ugh, bugs!
K

Kay said...

I've never heard of these bugs. I'm battling slugs right now.