This recent European introduction was first officially sighted
in the summer of 1992 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Since then it
has spread to all the New England states and upstate New York,
with devastating consequences for lily culture. BIOLOGY: Adult
lily leaf beetles are three-eighths of an inch long and have
black heads and bright orange-red bodies. They overwinter in
soil or plant debris and emerge in late March through June—about
the time new lily shoots are emerging. After mating, females lay
clusters of orange eggs on the undersides of lily (Lilium spp.)
and fritillary (Fritillaria spp.) leaves. These eggs hatch in 7
to 10 days, and the small larvae—which are orange, brown,
yellowish, or greenish—begin feeding on the undersides of the
leaves. As a defense against predators, the larvae deposit their
own feces on their backs. As they mature, they consume entire
leaves, buds, stems, and even flowers. After two to three weeks,
the larvae enter the soil to pupate. In another two to three
weeks, adults eme