the red menace returns

The dreaded scarlet lily beetle was late to appear this year, and I thought I had been granted a reprieve.  But unfortunately, not true.  In an attempt to foil the little buggers, I punished the victims and  pulled out all my lilies last year. But they just happily went on to chomp on the fritillaria.  They are back this year, breeding and munching away very happily. The problem is huge right across the country, and solutions are not yet forthcoming.  There is talk of introducing a predator wasp that will attack only this type of beetle, but tests are still being carried out to make sure the solution does not become another potential problem in the future.  For more info about the beetle, visit http://lilybeetletracker.weebly.com/

Thanks to my lovely husband Wayne for taking these great close-up shots.