Lily Leaf Beetle

Authors

Ann Mull, Utah State UniversityFollow
Lori R. Spears, Utah State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Factsheet

Publisher

Utah State University Extension

Publication Date

11-9-2021

First Page

1

Last Page

4

Abstract

The lily leaf beetle (LLB) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is an important pest from Eurasia that threatens native and cultivated true lilies (Lilium spp.) and fritillaries (Fritillaria spp.). It is also known as the red lily leaf beetle or scarlet lily beetle. LLB was first reported in North America in Montréal, Canada, in 1945 and in the U.S. in 1992 in Massachusetts, likely arriving via European shipments of lily bulbs. LLB has been detected in nine of the 10 Canadian provinces and 14 U.S. states, including the New England states, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Washington (EDDMapS, 2021). Based on LLB’s native distribution and habitat suitability, it is likely capable of establishing throughout most of the U.S. where plants in the Liliaceae family occur (Freeman et al., 2020), which includes Utah. In its native range, LLB outbreaks are rare, but significant losses to lily crops are currently occurring where LLB has been introduced, including the Netherlands and Great Britain. This fact sheet includes a description of LLB and provides reliable information on plant hosts, damage symptoms, life cycle, monitoring, and management.

Recommended Citation

Mull, Ann and Spears, Lori R., "Lily Leaf Beetle" (2021). All Current Publications. Paper 2241.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/extension_curall/2241