Lilly beetles are rife in my garden this year. As they're fairly new to the British Isles, they have no natural preditors and are very difficult to control other than picking them off by hand. The little blighters are canny and fall off the leaves as soon as they sense any movement, so you have to be quick as they fall on their backs and are black underneath so you can't see them.
If you have lilly's that you've bought in pots, chances are you'll have the beetles as well as they overwinter in compost, so be vigilant clearing them away, otherwise they'll strip lilly leaves very quickly. At first sight they look like ladybirds, but are slightly more orange, have longer bodies and no spots.
http://www.gardenforumhorticulture.co.uk/pestwatch/lily-beetle.htm
The RHS are conducting a survey to determine their distribution.
Market Warsop, North Nottinghamshire.
Join the fun and banter of the monthly CET competition.