Scarlet Lily Beetle

by Linda Howes

Title

Scarlet Lily Beetle

Artist

Linda Howes

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

I really love these cute little guys, but unfortunately they eat my flowers and plants.

The scarlet lily beetle, red lily beetle, or lily leaf beetle (Lilioceris lilii), is a leaf beetle that eats the leaves, stem, buds, and flowers, of lilies, fritillaries and other members of the family Liliaceae. It lays its eggs most often on Lilium and Fritillaria species. In the absence of Lilium and Fritillaria species, there are fewer eggs laid and the survival rate of eggs and larvae is reduced.[1] It is now a pest in most temperate climates where lilies are cultivated. This lily beetle belongs to the order Coleoptera, and the family Chrysomelidae, the leaf beetles. The adult lily beetle is about 6 to 9 mm (¼–⅜ in) in length, with relatively long legs and antennae. Its elytra (harder forewings) are bright scarlet and shiny. Its underside, legs, eyes, antennae and head are all black. It has large eyes, a slim thorax, and a wide abdomen.[2] Each antenna is made up of 11 segments. The eyes are notched and there are two grooves on the thorax.[3]

This lily beetle may be confused with the cardinal beetle (Pyrochroa serraticornis), which also has red elytra and a black underside. The wing cases of the lily leaf beetle are dimpled and are shinier and more rounded than those of the cardinal beetle, which are relatively dull, and narrower, flatter, and more elongated. The cardinal beetle also has comb-like antennae.[4] The lily leaf beetle is herbivorous, while the cardinal beetle preys on insects.[5] The lily leaf beetle is also confused with unspotted ladybirds, but it is narrower in shape.[2]
Natural history

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February 21st, 2021

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