Topic: Little red blighters....

[undercarriage plan]

 They have arrived. I've just squished my first 2 lilly beetles of the season.  Last year they stripped most of my lillies within a matter of days before I realized what was doing the damage. Thought I had really speedy slugs.... Be warned,get them quick!! Lottie Good squishing!

[Marianne]

Could these be the same insects that are demolishing my delphiniums ????  >:( If so, how can I fight them ??
Good luck Undercarriage Plan

 ;)

[undercarriage plan]

Slugs probably getting delphiniums, these little sweethearts are bright red beetles, look a bit like lady birds, but slightly longer, all red with black underbody, legs and antennae. I'm pretty sure they just eat lilly leaves.  Squish on sight  They also lay eggs on underside of leaves.  Fairly new pest, I think.  Good luck with the delphimiums. Lottie   (undercarriage plants a really big mistake.....!)

[Marianne]

LOL Lottie.  Thanks for the tip.  I am not sure these are slugs eating my plants.  Have checked the pots and cannot see anything.  I have watered them abundently to drown whatever was lurking beneath the ground - Maybe I should go out there with my torch and a weapon to catch them at it !
Good luck with your hunting of those little devils Lottie !

 ;)

[Carrie]

Picked and squished 6 of the b*ggers off my lilies yesterday - 4 of them were caught "in the act" so I guess I will have to check for eggs too >:(

[undercarriage plan]

I send the children out to "rescue" them...! Cruel, but really effective and totally organic.  Feel mean now I've written it down, sad eh? It works in the lottie too, I give the kids half an hour to rescue catipillars or else! That way I don't have to squish any, I'm happy, kids happy and catipillars happy!  ;DNot such a happy end for lilly beetles 8) Lottie

[Marianne]

What do the kids do with them when they have been rescued??  ::) ;D
I shudder to ask ...  ::) ;D

Don't feel guilty.  They don't when they nibble at your plants!
 ;)

[dibberxxx]

i picked off about 10 lillies beetles yesterday i through them in the pond the fish love them speacilly the orfe

[Marianne]

Eeeeeeeeek !
 :o

[undercarriage plan]

They put the beetles into a pot and I "find a new home" for them, God I'm truly evil... :'( The catipillars are really rescued and put in hedgerow ;D  Hadn't thought of feeding them to fish, think that might win kids over, quite gruesome children, if given half a chance!  Lotte PS Hoping snow will rid me of beetles, not in mood for snow!

[Marianne]

I don't think you are evil - you just love those little creatures.
 ::) :D

[undercarriage plan]

Love 'em to death! ;) Lottie

[rosebud]

Hi all i bought a spray called  The ultimate bug killer and boy it does its stuff, i don`t care because i am sick and tired of the bu**ers ruining my lovely lillies. ;D
And i bought Vine Weevil killer  sadistic i know but so are they. ;D ;D

[Marianne]

Hiya Rosebud !

As you say, there comes a time when enough is enough and one has to take drastic sanctions against the killer bugs. 
 ;D