What's eating my golden-rayed lily?

Golden-rayed lily (Lilium auratum) is a choice Oriental lily prized for its scented blooms — and the scarlet lily beetle loves it equally. Larvae cause the most destruction. Aphids spread viruses that can ruin ornamental value for years. Voles tunnel to eat bulbs underground. Vigilant hand-picking is the first line of defense.

Adults chew leaf edges; larvae consume entire leaf surfaces, leaving only midribs — heavy defoliation weakens bulbs for the following year Daily hand-picking from first signs in spring; neem oil or pyrethrin spray; encourage parasitoid wasps (Tetrastichus setifer) which parasitize larvae

Clusters on stems and undersides of leaves weaken growth and transmit lily mottle and lily symptomless viruses — infected bulbs carry the virus permanently Remove aphid colonies with insecticidal soap; avoid overhead irrigation that favours soft growth; destroy virused plants

Surface runways appear near the plant base; bulbs are gnawed underground, causing collapse of apparently healthy stems Plant bulbs in wire-mesh baskets; apply castor-oil based granular vole repellent around the bed in autumn