Yes, it’s true! I won the war against the scarlet lily beetle, also called the lily leaf beetle (Lilioceris lilii), an insect that greedily consumes the leaves and even the flower buds and flowers of lilies (Lilium), giant lilies (Cardiocrinum) and fritillarias (Fritillaria). leaving them looking like they’d been put through a blender. They used to be my absolute worst garden enemy, the very bane of my gardening existence, but I haven’t seen one in my gardens in 3 years!
And the solution was so simple! I simply pulled up and composted all my lilies and fritillarias! With nothing to eat at my place, the beetle has moved on to greener pastures, notably my next-door neighbor’s place where lilies still abound. I just wish my hammock was high enough off the ground so I could see over the fence and watch as she bobs up and down, squishing and spraying a good hour every day. I’ve already suggested she stop complaining, make a laidback gardener of herself and, especially, cease feeding her enemy, but she insists “it really isn’t all that much work”… then continues to complain.
Are Red Lily Beetles Poisonous to Humans? The Truth about this Garden Pest
As a passionate gardener, I love growing beautiful lilies in my garden. But in recent years, the striking red lily beetle has become an invasive pest that can demolish these prized plants. Naturally, I wondered – are red lily beetles actually poisonous to us humans as well as plants? Let’s uncover the facts about this beetle’s potential toxicity risks.
The Red Lily Beetle A Formidable Garden Foe
The red lily beetle (Lilioceris lilii) is originally from Europe and was first detected in North America in the 1940s. Around 6-9mm long, these beetles are a brilliant red color with black legs, antennae and undersides. They solely feed on plants in the true lily family, especially Lilium and Fritillaria species.
Both the adult beetles and larvae voraciously consume leaves, buds, flowers and stems. They can strip plants completely bare in just days. As an avid lily grower, I’ve had many plants decimated by these hungry beetles. It’s heartbreaking to see your gorgeous blooms ruined overnight!
So I had to know – could these beetles be toxic if I touched them while gardening? Let’s analyze the facts
Do Red Lily Beetles Bite or Sting Humans?
The first question gardeners often ask is whether red lily beetles can bite or sting. The good news is these beetles cannot bite, sting or puncture human skin.
Their chewing mouthparts are designed for munching juicy plant matter, not tough materials like human flesh. So while beetles may crawl over your hands occasionally, they pose no risk of biting or stinging. You don’t need to worry about venomous attacks from this insect.
Are Red Lily Beetles Poisonous via Touch or Ingestion?
When inspecting plants, you may notice red-orange fluid oozing from beetles’ leg joints when disturbed. This liquid is meant to deter predators, but it’s not actually toxic to humans. It can temporarily stain skin but washes off easily with soap and water.
In terms of ingestion, research confirms red lily beetles contain no poisonous compounds or alkaloid toxins dangerous to humans. Consuming a beetle would not lead to poisoning. Of course, I don’t recommend intentionally eating them! Generally though, the beetles present no toxicity threat from handling or accidental ingestion.
Can Red Lily Beetles Harm Pets?
We share our gardens with animal companions, so it’s logical to wonder if lily beetles could harm pets. According to veterinary toxicology sources, the beetles are not seriously toxic to cats, dogs or other pets if ingested.
As with humans, consuming high quantities of any insect could cause minor stomach upset. But overall, red lily beetles are not considered dangerously poisonous for our furry friends sharing the garden.
Staying Safe When Managing Beetles
While red lily beetles don’t pose toxicity risks, it’s smart to take precautions when managing infestations:
- Wear gloves when collecting beetles to prevent hand staining
- Wash hands thoroughly afterwards
- Keep beetles away from areas where small kids play
- Closely monitor lily plants daily to control populations
- Dispose of collected beetles in soapy water or alcohol
By understanding the science about this garden pest, we can work to eradicate beetles safely. With vigilant monitoring and removal, our prized lilies can continue thriving for years to come. We don’t need to fear toxicity from these vivid red insects.
Now that we’ve separated fact from fiction, we can focus on protecting gorgeous lilies from these hungry beetles. With persistence and the right control methods, our gardens can flourish, despite the threat of this invasive pest. We can outsmart the red menace through knowledge and Integrated Pest Management.
So be proactive, grab your garden gloves, and get ready to defend your flowers! Our beloved lilies are counting on us.
Plenty of Tips… That Don’t Work
I tried mightily to control the lily beetle by other means. I even succumbed to methods best described as folk remedies. Here are some of things I tried:
The most effective method, but… you have to go about it every morning, as early as possible, while the beetle is still a bit woozy (like most insects, it’s often lethargic early in the day). If you start too late, when it’s more active, it has the annoying habit of quickly dropping to ground when it sees you coming and turning on its back to reveal it black underside. It then plays dead, making it almost impossible to see against brown earth.
When you do catch one, you can either squish it in your fingers or drop it into a pail of soapy water (I find squishing to be sensorily more satisfactory, buy perhaps that’s just me). And you have to do the same with the disgusting larvae (they cover themselves in their own feces, just to discourage gardeners, I’m sure!). And also go over each plant leaf by leaf, turning the underside up, so you can see and crush the orange eggs that hide there.
By dint of repeating these actions day after day, the population will eventually decline, but, just when you think you’ve won the battle, the second generation of beetles flies in and you have to start all over. And yes, there is even a third generation at the end of the summer!
If you keep hand picking, you can at least keep your lilies relatively intact, but… what an effort for a just few flowers!
I was told that coffee grounds were perfect tool for discouraging lily beetles. Just spread them around the base of your lilies, they said, and the odor of coffee will keep the beetles away. Result: a total flop. Not only did the beetles carry on chewing on my lilies as if I had done nothing at all, but now my beautiful scented lilies all smelled like coffee… and I hate the scent of coffee!
On the advice of various gardeners and (former) friends, I tried planting garlic, onions, and pyrethrums near my lilies. The lily beetles just laughed at me.
I think I tried everything that wasn’t either illegal or insanely toxic (like home-brewed nicotine spray, which can kill you quickly and painfully if you accidentally absorb it). The list includes rhubarb leaf spray, garlic spray and hot pepper spray, with or without added soap to make them stick. The results were mostly abysmal. I simply saw no difference.
Neem oil was the most effective spray treatment. By treating every 4 or 5 days, I seemed to get some control. Insecticides that included pyrethrum, a natural insecticide, also worked… for a while. I had to apply them daily for results. Insecticidal soap and dishwashing liquids worked too, but only if they actually touched the insect. And more daily sprays were required.
In all cases, I had to repeat the treatment again and again… and I have other things to do with my life than spraying insecticides. Moreover, I was (and still am) very concerned that I might be killing beneficial insects (such as bees) as collateral damage.
I really got to test this one, as I live in a very cold climate. I’d been told that since lily beetles overwinter in the ground, when it freezes to great depths, they’d be killed. Well, if they are, more fly in from somewhere else, as there are plenty of them here after even the coldest winters. Last winter, we had over a week at -22?C (-30?C) and the ground froze solid to a depth of 7 feet (2 m). Yet I can still see my neighbor hand picking lily beetles every single morning, rain or shine.
What is the Scarlet Lily Beetle?
It’s actually quite a beautiful creature: elongated and bright orange-red on the top, with a black head and a black underside. Originally native to Europe and Asian, it was accidently brought to Montreal in 1942 where it seems to have spent a good 50 years acclimating, then suddenly began to spread back in the early 1990s. It is now widely distributed through New England and all of Eastern Canada and continues to spread. If you don’t have it yet (lucky you!), you probably will one day.
Dealing with the Red Lily Beetle
FAQ
Are red beetles poisonous?
With their reddish coloration serving as a warning, Red Milkweed Beetles are poisonous due to the toxic cardiac glycosides in the milkweed that they eat.
Are red lilies poisonous to humans?
⚠️ Lilies Is Not Safe for Humans. Lilium spp. Safeguard your family from hidden lily dangers by learning their toxic risks and prevention tips! Lilies are toxic to humans, especially the bulb, causing serious health risks.
Are red lily beetles bad?
Appropriately dubbed “The Red Menace,” these bright red beetles are terribly destructive, and can entirely defoliate and kill a lily or frittilaria plant in a single season. You may also hear them described as the red lily leaf beetle, or the scarlet lily beetle.
What gets rid of the red lily beetle?
Scarlet lily beetles control and treatment
Control with an organic contact spray such as BugClear™ Ultra 2 concentrate. If there is a bad infestation.
What is a scarlet lily beetle?
The scarlet lily beetle is a small red beetle measuring 0.23” to 0.35” (6 – 9 mm) and recognized by its dimpled red elytra. It’s a tiny red bug with long legs, long black segmented antennae, and a black head. Also called the red lily beetle or lily leaf beetle, the bug is common in gardens.
Do beetles eat lilies?
Both adult beetles and larvae feed on various parts of lily plants, including foliage, stems, leaves, buds, and flowers, causing significant damage. Lily species such as Fritillaria and Lilium are targeted, as well as Asiatic lilies.
What is a lily leaf beetle?
Pest Alert The lily leaf beetle (LLB), Lilioceris lilii, also known as the red or scarlet lily beetle, is an invasive insect of Eurasian origin. This insect was first reported in North America in eastern Canada during World War II and was most likely introduced in shipments of plant materials from Europe.
Do Scarlet Lily beetles kill lilies?
Unlike most other plants, lilies grow only one set of leaves a year, and once they are gone, they are gone for the year. The scarlet lily beetle can strip the leaves off a lily and kill the plant in just a few days. Scarlet lily beetles are sneaky. While they are very easy to spot, being bright red, they are hard to remove.
Are Lily beetles a threat to native lilies?
In North America, the threat extends further, as the native lilies face the potential peril posed by this invasive species. Belonging to the Order Coleoptera and the Family Chrysomelidae, L. lilii, commonly known as the lily beetle, exhibits remarkable physical characteristics. The adults typically measure between 6 to 9 millimeters in length.
Do Lily beetles damage plants?
Weakened plants, as a result of lily beetle damage, are more susceptible to pathogens such as Botrytis leaf blight and lily gray mold caused by Botrytis elliptica. The presence of lily beetles can create favorable conditions for these pathogens to infect the plants.