Lily leaf beetle

Lily leaf beetles are bright red or orange beetles (0.3 inch long) with black undersides and legs that feed on lily foliage, creating large, irregular holes and skeletonizing leaf tissue. Adult beetles and their orange larvae appear on lilies from late spring through summer. You notice the distinctive bright-colored beetles feeding openly on leaves and flowers. Populations can build rapidly.

Scout lily plants starting in late April for first adult beetle arrivals and remove by hand. Continue monitoring through summer and remove beetles and orange larval clusters as they appear. For infestations requiring treatment, spinosad or pyrethrin-based insecticides applied to foliage target adults and larvae. Repeat every 7 to 10 days during the active beetle season.