Marianne's Response
How to kill red beetles
I have red beetles on my Stargazer and Casablanca Lilies, and now they have spread to my Tiger Lilies. I have used “grubX” in the fall, and a safer brand bug spray during the summer. I also have a soapy can of death, but they are getting worse…
Posted by Lesley Paquette on June 12, 2014
Marianne's Response
So sorry for your infestation. At this time of the year the most effective treatment is handpicking the culprits and dropping them into your soapy can of death. You may have to do this early in the morning, just as the sun comes up to catch the most beetles as they feed. Good fall cleanup around the plants may help to expose their winter hideouts and encouraging birds and other natural predators will get the population under control in future years. There is another biological control called milky spore disease (Bacillus popilliae) as this bacteria kills the larvae of most beetles and gives long term control. Use it on your lawns and garden beds following label directions. You will see a vast improvement next summer. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti
