More Lilies Still to Come........

......and this one looks as if will be a good one - except for one bud at the bottom left that has been badly nibbled! - I often wonder why the flies love them so much - there always seem to be loads of them around - I can understand why they are there when the flower opens but the buds?............does anyone know?

Thank goodness they are not the dreaded Red Beetle - I seem to have got rid of those - at least for this year but there may be more living in the ground ready and waiting for next Summer!

The RHS - via Google - says that the Red lily beetles overwinter as adult beetles in soil, leaf litter and other sheltered places. This could be anywhere, not necessarily in the vicinity of lilies and fritillaries (consequently, there is no advantage in attempting to treat the soil below lily plants). The beetles begin emerging on sunny days in late March and April when they seek out the foliage of host plants. Eggs are laid in small batches on the underside of leaves during April to mid-summer. The eggs hatch and the larvae feed on the foliage. When fully fed, the larvae go into the soil to pupate. The next generation of adult beetles emerges from mid-summer onwards. These beetles add to the feeding damage but there is only one generation a year and these late summer adults will not mate and lay eggs until the following year.

Press lower case L to spot the flies!!!

It's a lovely morning - so far - Temperature a pleasant 66 Deg. F.

Have a terrific Tuesday!