Lily beetle: how to spot, prevent and treat it pest
How do you spot lily beetle?
There are round holes in the leaves and chewed edges, and on the leaves a bright red beetle. The larvae hide under heaps of their own black droppings and strip a leafy shoot bare in a few days. It also eats the petals and the stems.
How do you prevent lily beetle?
The adults appear as early as late March and stay active until October, so check the plants every time you walk past. They are easiest to find in early spring, before they lay their eggs. Heavy feeding in early summer means a smaller bulb and poorer flowering the following year.
What works against lily beetle?
Pick them off by hand, beetles and larvae as you find them. There is no insecticide, only a repellent and the encouragement of natural enemies (birds, ground beetles, parasitic wasps).
Which plant gets lily beetle? 1
Ornamentals 1
Sources: Royal Horticultural Society
Checked on 17 August 2026.