Pest identification
What's eating my lilium lancifolium?
Lily beetle (Lilioceris lilii)
Signs: Adults and larvae strip leaves and stems; can defoliate completely; eggs on leaf undersides
Control: Hand-pick adults and larvae; apply acetamiprid or spinosad; monitor weekly from April through summer
Aphids (mosaic virus vector)
Signs: Aphids feed on foliage and transmit lily mosaic virus to surrounding cultivars; tiger lily often shows no symptoms
Control: Control aphids with insecticidal soap; consider isolating tiger lily from other lily species to prevent virus spread
Deer
Signs: Stems and flower buds browsed cleanly; bulbils on stems may also be eaten
Control: Use deer repellent sprays; install wire or electric fencing in deer-pressure gardens
Keep lilium lancifolium pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Lilium lancifolium pests — FAQ
What is eating my lilium lancifolium?
Tiger lily (Lilium lancifolium) is a vigorous species that suffers lily beetle damage like other lilies, but it is also a known carrier of lily mosaic virus spread by aphids — it can infect nearby lilies without showing symptoms itself. Deer browse readily. Keep tiger lily isolated from prized hybrid cultivars.
How do I get rid of lily beetle (lilioceris lilii) on lilium lancifolium?
Adults and larvae strip leaves and stems; can defoliate completely; eggs on leaf undersides Hand-pick adults and larvae; apply acetamiprid or spinosad; monitor weekly from April through summer
How do I get rid of aphids (mosaic virus vector) on lilium lancifolium?
Aphids feed on foliage and transmit lily mosaic virus to surrounding cultivars; tiger lily often shows no symptoms Control aphids with insecticidal soap; consider isolating tiger lily from other lily species to prevent virus spread
How do I get rid of deer on lilium lancifolium?
Stems and flower buds browsed cleanly; bulbils on stems may also be eaten Use deer repellent sprays; install wire or electric fencing in deer-pressure gardens