What's eating my madonna lily?

Madonna Lily is susceptible to several garden pests and is particularly favored by lily beetle adults and larvae. Aphids cluster on stems and can spread viruses. Slugs damage new basal growth in autumn and spring. Botrytis (grey mold) is a bigger threat in wet years than pests, but insects are the primary animal threat.

Bright red adults and their slimy brown larvae strip leaves and buds rapidly, leaving bare stems Hand-pick adults and larvae daily — check undersides of leaves; squash egg clusters (orange, in rows); use pyrethrin-based spray if infestation is heavy

Colonies on stems and flower buds cause distortion; primary vectors of lily symptomless virus and other mosaic viruses Remove by hand or strong water jet; avoid overhead watering which spreads virus; use insecticidal soap; remove any virus-showing plants entirely

Basal rosette leaves and emerging stems eaten, especially in damp autumn and early spring conditions Apply iron phosphate pellets around rosette in autumn and again in spring; improve drainage; use grit mulch at soil level