If you spot the small scarlet lily beetle, don't mistake it for a beneficial ladybird, as its presence is far from welcome. First found in Surrey and the south-east, the lily beetle has spread across the country and has now reached Humberside and beyond.
Adults eat the leaves and flower buds of lilies and other members of the lily family.
From early April you can find them munching away on crown imperials. After mating they lay eggs, which hatch into maggot-like grubs that also feed on leaves. Either for disguise or to deter predators, the larvae cover themselves with their own excrement. This makes picking them off by hand rather unpleasant Be vigilant and pick off any adults or grubs as soon as you spot them. Due to their bright colour, adults are highly visible, but they can hide under leaves or in congested growth at the tip of stems.