I love daylilies for the reliable color they add to my flowerbeds each summer. And, they are so incredibly easy to grow. But for the last 10 years it’s really been the Orienpet and LA Hybrid lilies that I most look forward to seeing. They put on a spectacular show.
Over the years I’ve slowly added them to the back of all my annual flowerbeds. From late June to late July it’s an explosion of color:
And that’s why I was disappointed to learn that there’s a new pest making its way south from northern Wisconsin—the lily leaf beetle which was first discovered in the U.S. in 1992 and arrived in Wisconsin in 2014. Just like the Japanese beetles that took over my neighborhood about 15 years ago and completely changed what I grow (or shall I say “sacrifice”), the lily leaf beetle also promises to be a disruptive party pooper.
Causing the most damage in their larval stage, these insects love true lilies like Asiatic, Oriental, Easter, Turk’s Cap and tiger lilies. Both adults and larvae eat the flowers, buds, stems and leaves of true lilies.
While some chemicals have proven effective, experts recommend hand-picking and destroying the adult beetles to reduce damage.
You should see the disgusted face I’m making right now just thinking about it. I’m already grossed out by having to pull buzzing Japanese beetles from my flowers every day during July and August of the growing season. And now you’re telling me I’ll soon have another beetle-picking assignment besides?
At the point at which I’m spending more time plucking beetles from my flowers than watering or weeding them, I may just decide to throw in the towel altogether!
Oh who am I kidding. I’m not going down without a fight!