Have you seen Lily Beetle this year

Update on the distribution of the Lily Beetle Lilioceris lilii – a request for 2011 records

Adrian Knowles, Essex Wildlife Trust, Abbotts Hall Farm, Gt Wigborough, Essex, CO5 7RZ

This exotic beetle, originally from Eurasia, has become a serious pest of garden lilies in recent years and it is the subject of a members’ survey section on the Field Club web-site.  This survey page provides notes on its identification, arrival and spread in the UK and also its lifestyle. However, it might be interesting to revise this survey.

I have an early flowering lily (possibly some sort of fritillary) in my garden which has attracted this beetle in recent years.  I have attempted to eradicate it by picking them off and killing the adults and larvae.  This year, the lilies are growing splendidly, seemingly untouched by the beetle.  This may be because my mechanical methods have won a temporary respite but it also occurred to me that this exotic species might have been hit hard by the prolonged cold and frosty winter we have just had.  It would therefore be interesting to know whether this lack of lily beetles is more widespread.

I would be interested to receive responses from anyone in Essex, providing location information (grid reference or postcode) and using one of the four standard statements below:

Postcode:

or Map Grid Ref: *either postcode or gridref

 I have had Lily Beetles in my garden before and they are still there in 2011

 I have had Lily Beetles in my garden before, but I have not seen them this year

 I have not seen Lily Beetles in my garden before, but they have appeared here in 2011

 I have never seen Lily Beetles in my garden

Name:

*lastname, firstname

Comments:

 

If the beetles are present, but in seemingly lower numbers, use response 1.  It would be best to wait until June before responding, in case you jump the gun and report a negative before they have emerged.

Please send your response using one of these four standard comments to myself at the address above or via e-mail or submit your information here. If you do still have Lily Beetles present please also submit the record with a date here (you will need to be logged-on to do this).