Scarlet Lily Beetle (lillioceris lilii)

Scarlet Lily Beetle

The scarlet lily beetle (Lilioceris lilii), or red / leaf lily beetle, is a leaf beetle that eats the leaves, stem, buds and flower of lilies, fritillaries and other members of the family Liliaceae. They mainly lay their eggs on Lilium and Fritillaria species. Observed in absence of Lilium and Fritillaria species, the numbers of eggs laid were significantly less and the survival rate of eggs and larvae were lowered. It is now a pest in most temperate climates where lilies are cultivated. Lily leaf beetles overwinter in the soil and come out early in spring whereas adults stay in moist environments.

During the winter, adult lily leaf beetles rest in an undisturbed protective environment, normally shaded, cool and moist. In early spring, they emerge to feed on young lily leaves and mate. Females can lay up to 450 eggs each season by laying about 12 eggs on the underside of an individual lily/fritillaria leaf in irregular lines along the midrib to conceal them. Hatching of the eggs occurs in about 6 days. The larvae begin to feed underneath the leaf and working up to the rest of the plant, feeding for up to 24 days. They then burrow themselves in the ground to pupate in a cocoon formed by saliva and small particles of soil. In about 20 days, they emerge as adults and continue to feed until winter. In some cases, they are able to go through this cycle more than once in a single year.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarlet_lily_beetle - 26.11.2011

Scarlet Lily Beetle

This beautiful beetle measures about seven millimeters, only.

ContactDEǀEN
brilliant creation - nature pictures and articles
this topic's previous nature photothis topic's next nature photo
more options
full screenclose full screen
Would you like to share some excellent nature pictures in high resolution?
Do you have suggestions or questions reffering to creation?
Please, contact us: info[]brilliant-creation.org - Internet: www.brilliant-creation.org

Please, keep in mind, that most of the nature fotos on brilliant-creation.org are protected by copyright and therefore may not be used elsewhere without written permission respectively appropriate picture credits.
Show additional information about the image's subjectHide additional information about the image's subject