Red Lily Beetle

The Red Lily Beetle is not native to the UK and probably moved here from the Mediterranean. Mild winters and warm summers have allowed the beetle to colonise across the UK.

A colony of beetles and grubs can strip a lily plant of leaves and flowers and, if this happens early in the growing season the bulbs can be severely affected.

The beetles find lilies by smell and will fly short distances to the nearest food supply. The beetle is easy to spot due to it's bright red colouring with black underside. The insect will squeak by rubbing it's wings to scare off predators or if it is threatened.

The best way to treat it is to hand pick the adult or larvae from the plant and destroy it.

The |Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) are asking gardeners to report infestations on their website.