Lilioceris lilii
Pest description and damage This bright red leaf beetle is new to the PNW and is currently only known from a few locations in Bellevue, Washington. The adult beetles are 0.4 to 0.5 inch in length, shiny as though lacquered. Eggs are bright red, dimming to dull orange-brown before they hatch. The larvae are covered in their own gooey excrement and look like a glob of slime. Adults chew ragged holes in the leaves and petals and the larvae scrape the leafy tissue from the surface. Eventually the leaf wilts down to nothing.
Biology and life history Adults emerge early in spring as the first lily shoots appear. They mate and lay eggs immediately. Adults are found well into summer with continuous eggs and larvae.
Pest monitoring Inspect ground as new shoots emerge and remove any adults found.
Management-cultural control
Remove larvae as noticed; select lilies most resistant cultivars and species. Asiatic lilies are highly favored.
Management-biological control
None known from this area.
Management-chemical control
See Table 2 in:
Chemical Control of Landscape Pests
For more information
See "Leaf beetles" in: