Taxonomy
- Polyphaga
- Chrysomeloidea
- Chrysomelidae
- Lilioceris
- Lilioceris lilii
Common name
Lily Beetle
Images
Source: Roger Key
Source: Roger Key
Source: Lech Borowiec
Description
Size: 6-8mm
Basic colour: Head legs and body black, pronotum and elytra red.
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: Red
Leg colour: Black
Basic colour: Head legs and body black, pronotum and elytra red.
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: Red
Leg colour: Black
First recorded in Britain in 1839, expanded its range especially since the 1980s. Widely regarded as a garden pest. See the Lily Beetle Survey here.
Biology
Status: Widespread south and east, spreading west and north.
Habitat: Gardens and plant nurseries.
Host plant: Various Liliaceae, especially Lilium and Fritillaria.
Overwintering: As adults in sheltered places e.g. soil, not necessarily near food plants.
Food: Liliaceae leaves; once leaves are consumed, late-instar larvae may consume remaining buds, flowers and seed capsules.
Other notes: Eggs 1mm long and orange-red. Larvae orange with black heads, though usually covered with their own slimy black excrement; 8-10mm long when fully grown. Pupation occurs in the soil.
Habitat: Gardens and plant nurseries.
Host plant: Various Liliaceae, especially Lilium and Fritillaria.
Overwintering: As adults in sheltered places e.g. soil, not necessarily near food plants.
Food: Liliaceae leaves; once leaves are consumed, late-instar larvae may consume remaining buds, flowers and seed capsules.
Other notes: Eggs 1mm long and orange-red. Larvae orange with black heads, though usually covered with their own slimy black excrement; 8-10mm long when fully grown. Pupation occurs in the soil.
Articles
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(2009), Lilioceris lilii (Scopoli) (Chrysomelidae) in the Scottish Borders The Coleopterist 18(3):157
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(2003), A further note on the continued spread in Britain of the Lily Beetle Lilioceris lilii (Scopoli) (Chrysomeldiae), with notes on its host plant range The Coleopterist 12(2):67
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(2002), A first record of the Lily Beetle Lilioceris lilii (Scopoli) in Ireland (Chrysomelidae: Criocerinae) The Coleopterist 11(3):90
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(2001), The status of the Lily Beetle Lilioceris lilii (Scopoli, 1763) in Britain (Chrysomelidae: Criocerinae) The Coleopterist 10(1):5
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(1999), Lilioceris lilii (Scopoli) (Chrysomelidae), new to the Bristol region The Coleopterist 8(3):116