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Rupert (W.Yorkshire) wrote:
"StsAlive" wrote in message
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Who is he

It's a red lily beetle - (Lilioceris lilii).
It eats things particularly lilies and things that look like lilies such
as Cardiocrinum. Real Batards, but very pretty.

this is a complete tangent but do you know anything about
Cardiocrinums?
I have been growing them in small pots for years (because of 2 house
moves)
from one batch of seed from a plant sale and now have a few planted
out.
They get murdered by snails and slugs but a couple seem ready to flower
this year.
Can I then collect more seed or collect bulblets?


Why low on foliag
It has not come out yet:-)

Spiders for the lovers

That is a garden spider (Araneus diadematus or related).

Will it eat lily beetles

If they fly into its web it might but the beetles are probably red for
a reason (e.g. they taste dire).


http://www.daj.fseltd.btinternet.co.uk/RedBeetle.htm

dj


What I don't know about Cardiocrinums could be written on the entire storage
space of Google:-)
Three bubs planted about four years ago. One bulb was given the big
hole/dead cow underneath treatment (dead bird)by which time the other two
were just stuck in.
Each year I get a superb display of leaves on all three plants but I am
reliably informed that the one that I pampered will flower this year and
then die. I have been told to dig up the plant and pot on the small bulbs.
They are worth growing just for the leaves and as a lure for that bloody
beetle.
Hoping someone else will give addition advice to us both.