Gardening Queries

[Old_Geezer]

Bugs & Bands

2 queries (although I've probably thousands if I took the time to list them)
:-)

a) Difficult to arrange access to a photo at present but some of my plants, notably the lillies, are "infested" with a bug that I would describe as a sort of more rectangular red ladybird but without the black spots. I have no idea if they are the foe eating the leaves, or the friend eating whatever's eating the leaves. Does the description mean anything to anyone, can anyone identify them ?

b) in order to protect the fruit & veg in the raised bed, I constructed a frame from bamboo sticks, plumbing pipe and a further bamboo stick connecting the two loops at the top; then slung netting over the lot. Seemed ok but to keep the connecting bamboo from falling I first tried the green plastic ties I had. They slipped within days. I needed something that would grip the smooth piping. So I replaced the ties with a couple of elastic bands each end. That stopped the slipping but they have deteriorated and were broken before the week was out. Does anyone have any suggestions for a longer lived gripping solution ?

TIA.

[Tilly2]

1) Lily beetle. Dreadful things.

[Tilly2]

https://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/profile?pid=553

[woofgang]

this tape is good. peels off easily and holds even through heavy rain. I bought it to use indoors but its currently holding a carrier bag that I taped over the top of my water butt because I have lost the lid and didn't want anything drowning in it. Been there 3 weeks now through torrential rain. Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[woofgang]

oh and Tilly is right about the lilly beetles. One of the very few insects I kill without compunction....like vine weevils

[Old_Geezer]

Thanks both. Yep, those are they. Darn it. They've stripped some lilies badly and eaten holes in others. Spray time tomorrow I guess.

[Chipchopper]

I'm thinking Cardinal beetle or more probably Lily beetle.

Scaffold boards might have been better.

[Old_Geezer]

Local store had Westland Bug Spray. Lilies have been dosed, adult bugs all wet. Have to see what happens next. Their appetite has been vociferous over the last week, some leaves gone completely, most have major holes. Not much remains of the heads where flowers used to be either. :-(

[woofgang]

https://www.wyevalegardencentres.co.uk/tips-and-advice_how-to-control-scarlet-lily-beetle.

[megfitz]

Lily Beetle are also fond of Fritillaries, if you have any check them as well.

[Old_Geezer]

Don't have those. Do have a "weed" in a pot I'm letting continue as it seems to be some kind of lupin. It's been extensively eaten too. Not seen the bugs on it, but seems too much of a coincidence so it got sprayed too.

[Barmaid]

A warm summer's eve is a good time to spot and kill vine weevil and Lily beetle. Spraying now will not kill the grubs tho. You'll need to do again probably October/Nov for them. It's the grubs that do the real damage to the roots. We lost about 20 fuschias last year!

[Old_Geezer]

Thanks for the tip. Maybe I'll set an alarm in the mobile calendar then.

[TonyV]

OG think bugs attacking your lilies are specific to a specific species don't think there is any specific way of treating apart from taking them of manually.
For your Fruit bed cover use some electrical cable ties.

[Old_Geezer]

Can't give everyone best answer so it goes to Tilly for being first. Thanks fir the tape suggestion Woofie, I've marked to go on my Amazon wish list. May well give it a try.

I'm also going to have to stop looking at the wildlife in the garden as just nature, and be more alert to most being pests. Of course the biggest pest I have is next door's cat !

[Togo]

If you have Lupins Geezer....slugs and snails love them. Hateful things they are, ruined my lupins earlier in the year. It is one of the few areas of the garden where I use slug pellets. Around the lupins and the Hosta.

[Tilly2]

Thank you, OG. x

[TonyV]

OG I would still recommend electrical cable ties to hold your framework together.

https://www.screwfix.com/c/electrical-lighting/cable-ties/cat830570?cm_sp=managedredirect-_-electrical-_-cabletiesL

[Old_Geezer]

Slugs and snails love my potatoes too :-( I'm assuming that the nematodes reduced slug activity but snails seem relentless.

And I'm now seeing lots of weeds trying to grow in my raised bed compost. Looks like something that needs permanent attention with the hoe.

Thanks for the cable tie suggestion, they may be tighter gripping than the gardening ties, but I'm still concerned about slippage, so suspect I'll try sticky tape first.

[TonyV]

OG if you pull cable ties up tight with pliers they will not move.

[woofgang]

TonyV newest and better are reusable cable ties!