Species of the Month: Lily Beetle Lilioceris lilii (June 2025)

For June, our species of the month is one for gardeners, and one that may not always be a particularly welcome find. The Lily Beetle Lilioceris lilii is a leaf beetle (family Chrysomelidae), a large group of often colourful beetles. The adult is 6-8mm long and predominantly scarlet in colour, with broad and dimpled elytra and black head and legs.

It is sometimes regarded as a garden pest, and adults are often spotted feeding on the foliage of lilies Lilium and fritilliaries Fritillaria. Damage to plant leaves can often be observed caused by the feeding activity of adults and larvae; in most cases this does not present a significant problem, though in the most severe situations it can sometimes be detrimental to the long term health of the bulbs.

It has expanded its range greatly in the last 40 years, spreading northwards and westwards, and is now found as far north as Inverness. In SW Scotland it has been recorded in all vice counties except Wigtownshire (see map below), though the sparsity of records suggest it is not particularly widespread. Perhaps our gardening wildlife recorders know different and can help to fill in some of these gaps?

Lily Beetle map: link to source and credits

Although the bright red colour makes this species very recognisable, it is worth noting that there are other bright red beetles with which it could potentially be confused. The Red-headed Cardinal Beetle Pyrochroa serraticornis is at it’s northern limit in SW Scotland, and has been recorded at a few locations along the Solway coast. It is larger (up to 15mm) and is more typically associated with broad-leaved woodland.

Mark Pollitt

SWSEIC Manager