Learn about controlling the red lily leaf beetle, including the safest sprays to use.
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For years lilies have been the carefree darlings of many perennial gardens. But then came the red lily leaf beetle. This European native found its way to Massachusetts in 1992 and has been spreading around New England ever since. If you grow Asiatic, Oriental, or Turk’s cap lilies or fritillaria bulbs, you know these beetles. Daylilies, luckily, aren’t affected.
The 
overwintering bright red adults emerge to feed in spring as soon as your lily plants start growing. In May they start laying bright orange eggs on the underside of the leaves. The eggs hatch within 1 week and the black, slug-like larvae start feeding. What’s even worse is the larvae pile their own excrement on their back as a defense mechanism. Yuck. The larvae feed for up to 3 weeks causing damage to lily leaves, buds, and flowers.
To control these dastardly beetles you need diligence. Hand pick and kill the adults. Spray Neem oil or spinosad organic controls once you see signs of the eggs. These controls are most effective against the young larvae and will need to be reapplied weekly after eggs are spotted.
Now for this week’s tip, looking for something wild to eat? Why not trying stinging nettles? Nettles are highly nutritious and make a great, dark green colored, mild tasting spring soup. With gloves, carefully hand pick the tops of young nettle plants found in abandoned fields. The “sting” in nettle leaves is neutralized when you cook it. Go to VPR dot-net for tips on identifying stinging nettle plants and look below for my soup recipe.
Non-Dairy Cream of Nettle soup recipe:
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons olive oil or butter
1 cup chopped onion
3 quarts fresh nettle leaves
5 medium sized potatoes cut into 1 inch cubes
2 cups vegetable stock
4 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
black pepper to taste
Heat butter or olive oil in 4 quart saucepan. Add shopped onions and cook until transparent. Add potatoes, stock, water and salt. Simmer until potatoes are soft. Add nettle leaves, cover pot and simmer 5 to 10 minutes until cooked. Pour mixture a little at a time into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Return to saucepan and reheat slowly. Serve hot or cold.
