North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Dianne Stephany" <iluvdanc@rochester.rr.com>]

HI
   I first started with Neem- I sprayed and they fell off and crawled 
around and into the dirt.  No body died that I could tell- they were active 
again when I came back out an hour or so later, feasting on my lilies.  I 
even tried picking them off and dropping them into Neem water.   I didn't 
notice any difference than dropping them into dish detergent and water.
   I sprayed pyola directly on the red leaf lily beetles-- they fell off, 
crawled around and later were back up on the stalks feasting AND this was 
maybe one or two days after I tried Neem. I didn't bother spraying again.
   I routinely pick and drown red leaf lily beetles (and Japaneese beetles) 
as I see them. I have only seen one larvae- it was frozen in place on the 
lily, not moving and stiff, and it didn't have the typical coating of its 
own fecal material on it, so I guess/ hope it ate some leaf and died of the 
Sevin..

   I have gotten pretty good at catching and drowning beetles-- I use 
bright gloves and hold one hand under the red beetle as I try to pluck it 
with the other hand-- they are tricky but I usually catch them! or I go back 
and get the ones I missed later.  The white sheet is a good idea but I 
wouldn't have room to get it between plants. And the beetles fall pretty 
close to the stalk. They keep flying in from the other lily beds in the 
neighborhood.
   I have gotten resigned to using Sevin- it works.

Thanks
Dianne