1st heard of the "scourge of Cambridge" in mid 9o's. They arrived in my Newton NH garden 2003. Hand picking is tedious, larva are yucky. Last year I began to try ground black pepper on plants as soon as they emerge and at least once a week or after rain. The pepper seems to annoy the beetles some drop others go stiff but still alive. Pepper may scratch them like diatomacious earth. Continued this season with good results knocking the population down 90%. I missed some egg masses resulting in yucky larve but again about 90% less I have about 40 lilies. Give ground black pepper a try and let me know iksonamorynot@yahoo.com

There are some inaccuracies about this pretty creature. They have NOT found their way around the North American continent yet, remaining primarily in the coastal areas of the northeast where they were first seen in 1992 in Mass. They have been sighted in coastal Maine since at least 2002 and are becoming a greater problem in this state. My 2-year old garden had an infestation this year. They are found only on true lilies (lilium) and a few other species like fritillaria and Solomon's seal, but not daylilies (hemerocallis). Neem products and some common insecticides can help but need to be used carefully. I'm not aware of any more natural solutions yet and no natural enemies. They are posed to become a bigger problem in this country if not taken more seriously. Your web site has some terrific pictures but give one the impression they are bigger than they are, which is about the size of a lady beetle.

This beetle is native to Europe, but has become well established in North America.

Look for them on lillies that have short leaf blades on a central stalk like an Easter lilly rather than those, like day lillies, that have long leaf blades all arising at the base of the plant.

Lilioceris lilii often stridulates noisily in protest when you hold one in your fingers. The larvae resemble a pile of moist excrement because they pile it up on themselves as a defensive measure.

This unmistakable vermilion red beetle is, I think, introduced from Eurasia in North America. It is frequently found on or near lily plants or related plant genera (Lilium, Hemerocallis, and so on) in gardens. Larvae eat the leaves of these plants.