Moths are out of control.

[PRBuzz]

Originally Posted by FishermanTim

the Asian Red Lilly-Leaf beetle to ruin EVERYONE'S lillies in the region. I kid you not, these little red beetles have infested all of New England, and also have no natural predators in this country.

I have those critters all over my lillies (what little is left of them) and wondered what they were. Thanks.

[ecduzitgood]

My wheels are turning and I think if I can find an adhesive shelf liner that light can pass through I'll make up a frame with a light inside and wrap the paper (adhesive side out) around it and when they land on it they will get stuck. They even come at the led light on the front of my hat, thankfully they don't bite like mosquitoes yet they are almost as bad as gnats bombing the light. I remember last spring when I was outside having a smoke I could hear them crunching away.
And those asian lilly bettles got mine for years but they seemed to leave the tiger lilies alone after using a systemic insecticide (I can't remember which? I'll look; although it wouldn't suprise me if it's banned now).
The bayer tree and shrub (it's systemic) seemed to help my smaller trees but the bigger ones took a beating this spring so I'll treat them this coming spring. The neighbors who won't treat their trees and the woods around me are going to ensure I them every year and once again try to keep them outside each fall.

Heck I've even considered putting a box fan on high with a light behind it (outflow side) to see if that would work.

[ProfessorM]

Originally Posted by PRBuzz

I have those critters all over my lilies (what little is left of them) and wondered what they were. Thanks.

plant day lilies they don't effect those, as they are not really a Lily but a decent alternative and require no maintenance at all other than splitting every few years. Pretty much impossible to kill them, they thrive on neglect. The true lilies are effected and I find them not worth putting in anymore IMO which is a shame as I used to have many.

Trying to trap them, winter moths that is, is a noble idea but with the mass quantity of them it is a waste of your time IMO.

Winter moths

in March look for tiny orange egg clusters scattered on tree trunks and branches. You can apply a perfectly timed hort. oil spray but good luck trying to get up high in a tree. With the amount of moths I am seeing it is a waste of time and money. When the little larvae are feeding on foliage you can apply BT, but again you are not going to be able to get up in the canopy of the trees so good luck. Fruit trees can be managed because the are small but large oaks and such forget about it. If you are real adamant about controlling them you will need to call in a pro to have your trees sprayed with a BT and or Spinosad product, which can only be sprayed by a licensed pro, arborist. Sucks having your whole yard covered with chemicals. I have done it and last time it cost me $400.00 and it is not 100 percent effective. If your neighbor doesn't do it they can come into your yard via wind direction, thus the name gypsy It is very expensive to have done and then after a month or so you got Gypsy moths to contend with so it is a losing battle. Just have to hope mother nature comes to the rescue with some kind of natural control. There is a natural occurring fungus in the soil that will kill off the gypsy moth but the winter moth has no known natural control. The infestation will be bad for a few years and then it will slow to only come back heavy again several years later. It goes in cycles. I control them with Sevin that I spray on my fruit trees and blueberries. I don't have the equipment to do large trees , thus the licensed pro with the heavy duty sprayer. You can buy Sevin at Lowes and such and spray yourself but it is a toxin so be very careful and read the directions as it can effect beneficial insects. I hate using any such products on something I am going to eat but it has to be done. The problem with winter moths compared to gypsy moths is they start very early and go into the bud, which is pretty much undetectable until it is too late. Like all spraying you need to time it perfectly or it is a waste. Contact your local County Extension Service for more info as that is what they are there for. I hate the buggers.

[PRBuzz]

Originally Posted by ProfessorM

The true lilies are effected and I find them not worth putting in anymore IMO which is a shame as I used to have many.

The Shultz's Houseplant&Garden Inspect spray (all natural pyrethrins from mums) kills them buggers dead, but repeated applications necessary to keep them away. After eating the bloom they strip the leaves, leaving a dead stalk.

[ProfessorM]

Originally Posted by PRBuzz

The Shultz's Houseplant&Garden Inspect spray (all natural pyrethrins from mums) kills them buggers dead, but repeated applications necessary to keep them away. After eating the bloom they strip the leaves, leaving a dead stalk.

thanks for the info. My problem is I forget to do it. At this stage of gardening I have pretty much eliminated most plants that need lots of attention as my time is too limited and most of that is taken up by fruits and veggies and even they don't get the attention they need as fishing gets in the way. Some day I will have to revisit the Lilly's.

[FishermanTim]

The basic problem with the winter moths is that they thrive in colder weather, so nothing short of sub freezing temps will have any effect.

The lily beetle infestation had been tracked back to a Cambridge florist / horticulturalist that had received a shipment of asian lillies.
I don't know exactly HOW they were released into the wild, but I do know how they got here, and that we are screwed because of it.

I used to grow asian tiger lillies from bulb, and for the first 4-5 years they did fantastic. Then the beetles came and killed them off one by one. I have one of the originals left, and I'll wait and see if it survived last years attacks. I am impressed by this lone survivor's height. It has been topping 6 feet for the past 3 years with over a half dozen VERY aromatic flowers.

The only reason this plant has lasted so long is because EVERY morning during the spring I go out and check for beetles. I kill all I find and destroy any eggs or hatched larvae.
The larvae are quite disgusting, as they cover themselves with their own feces, making them safe from predators. Really nasty and messy to kill.

[eastendlu]

Originally Posted by FishermanTim

The basic problem with the winter moths is that they thrive in colder weather, so nothing short of sub freezing temps will have any effect.

The lily beetle infestation had been tracked back to a Cambridge florist / horticulturalist that had received a shipment of asian lillies.
I don't know exactly HOW they were released into the wild, but I do know how they got here, and that we are screwed because of it.

I used to grow asian tiger lillies from bulb, and for the first 4-5 years they did fantastic. Then the beetles came and killed them off one by one. I have one of the originals left, and I'll wait and see if it survived last years attacks. I am impressed by this lone survivor's height. It has been topping 6 feet for the past 3 years with over a half dozen VERY aromatic flowers.

The only reason this plant has lasted so long is because EVERY morning during the spring I go out and check for beetles. I kill all I find and destroy any eggs or hatched larvae.
The larvae are quite disgusting, as they cover themselves with their own feces, making them safe from predators. Really nasty and messy to kill.

Sorta like politicians.

[Back Beach]

If anyone has a tree or trees that are of value, I recommend contacting your local arborist and scheduling a treatment. Winter moths can do some serious damage.